Manchester United outcast Jesse Lingard is a subject of enquiry by West Brom, while the Red Devils are prepared to loan out youngster Facundo Pellistri.
According to a report from Sky Sports, Premier League strugglers West Bromwich Albion have made a loan enquiry for out-of-favour Manchester United star Jesse Lingard with less than a week left for the January transfer window to close.
Having been a prominent member of the Manchester United first-team under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, Lingard has endured a rapid fall from grace under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 28-year-old has hardly seen any meaningful first-team action over the past year or so, featuring just three times in 2020/21 season.
Lingard’s contract with Manchester United was set to expire at the end of the current season. However, the Red Devils triggered a twelve-month extension option, prolonging his stay at the club till 2022. But, with the England international not a major part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans, a decision on his future is yet to be taken.
There has been plenty of interest in Lingard during the January transfer window. Fellow Premier League rivals Tottenham were said to be keen on signing the Red Devils’ academy product while there has also been interest from Portuguese outfit FC Porto.
West Ham United, too, have been linked with a loan move for Lingard and now West Bromwich Albion have also entered the fray. The Baggies, who are languishing towards the bottom end of the table, are seeking to add more quality to aid their battle for survival, with Lingard a player who manager Sam Allardyce appreciates.
However, a move could be difficult to work out due to the finances involved. The loan fee and the 28-year-old’s wages could prove to be problematic for West Brom, with Manchester United unwilling to subsidise the deal, considering the number of clubs interested.
As for West Ham, they already have the maximum two domestic loan signings in Craig Dawson and Said Benrahma. However, with a deal to convert the latter’s transfer into a permanent one in the works, they could push for a move to sign Lingard on a temporary basis. It remains to be seen where the Manchester United outcast ends up in the coming days.
Manchester United ready to loan out Facundo Pellistri amid Alaves, Club Brugge interest
Meanwhile, Lingard might not be the only Manchester United player who could leave on loan over the next few days. As per a report from Goal.com, summer signing Facundo Pellistri could also be sent out on a temporary spell amid strong interest from La Liga side Alaves and Belgian outfit Club Brugge.
Manchester United signed the 19-year-old winger from Uruguayan outfit Penarol on the summer transfer deadline day. However, he is yet to make his first-team debut for the Red Devils, having spent the first half of the season with the club’s reserves, for whom he has three goals and an assist from eight appearances.
Given the competition for places at the first-team level that has only increased after Amad Diallo’s arrival earlier this month, United are now prepared to loan Pellistri out for the rest of the season, something which manager Solskjaer confirmed earlier this week.
“There have been talks and quite a few clubs interested in Facundo to go out on loan and that’s maybe something we’ll let him do now he’s had a few games in the reserves and we want him to have regular football at a high level,” he said.
The report claims that Club Brugge are leading the race to sign the Uruguayan youngster after the Belgian outfit explained what their plans for him are and promised him a leading role in the side. La Liga outfit Alaves are keen too and Pellistri himself wishes to play in Spain, but are yet to hold meaningful talks and do not have time on their side.
It will be interesting to see where the teenager ends up moving, but as things stand, it looks certain that Pellistri will be heading out on loan for the rest of the campaign.
