Manchester United have reportedly tied down Jesse Lingard, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, to a long-term £95,000 per-week deal.
The Sun have claimed that Manchester United academy graduate Jesse Lingard has agreed a four-year bumper deal to stay at Old Trafford. The English international has been linked with an audacious move to Arsenal amidst a reported contract standoff with the Red Devils. But it all seems sorted between Lingard and his boyhood club.
The report states that Jesse Lingard, who was earlier on £30,000 per-week, is set to pocket £95,000 per-week as part of the new deal, more than triple of his earlier pay. Lingard is reportedly ecstatic at signing a long-term deal, after establishing himself as one of Mourinho’s key men in the first-team setup at Old Trafford.
The deal includes an option for an extra year beyond the four years and it is a contract that both the parties wanted to commit to, as per the sources. The news comes right after reports of Manchester United activating the one-year extension clause in Marouane Fellaini’s contract.
The mood at Manchester United seems to be at an all-time high with the Red Devils on a nine game winning streak, the longest since Sir Alex Ferguson, and the contract renewal of one of the academy graduates is going to further elevate the morale and feel-good factor around the Old Trafford.
Jesse Lingard’s contract stand-off and United’s reported pursuit of Mesut Ozil, who is in a contract standoff of his own at the Emirates, brought about speculation linking the Warrington-born 24-year-old to a move to Arsenal.
Manchester United have previously sold another academy graduate in Daniel Welbeck to the Gunners. But Lingard, unlike Welbeck, has managed to establish himself firmly in the manager’s plans and it looks like his tenacity and hardwork has finally paid off.
Lingard’s impact is something United fans know all about. It was the 24-year-old who won United the FA Cup in 2016, with a brilliant effort, and produced a magical solo goal in the Community Shield against Leicester City a few months after. The player has featured in more than 50% of United’s matches, which signifies his stature as an integral part of the setup.
While Lingard isn’t the most exciting players to watch, his constant movement and glimpses of footballing brilliance are just magic. One simply cannot forget his amazing cross to Zlatan Ibrahimovic against West Bromwich Albion.
All Manchester United fans would be delighted with the news that the player is set to stay at Old Trafford and don the Red Devils’ shirt for the next few years to come at the very least.
