Manchester United are reportedly ready to use Jesse Lingard as a makeweight in their bid to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho in the summer.
According to an exclusive report from The Sun, Manchester United are ready to ramp up their pursuit of long-term transfer target Jadon Sancho. The Red Devils are considering offering Jesse Lingard in a part-exchange deal for the Borussia Dortmund star in order to bring his £100 million valuation down ahead of the summer transfer window.
It is no secret at this point that Manchester United have been chasing the signing of Sancho from Dortmund for well over a year now. The Red Devils were discouraged by Dortmund’s valuation of the England international last summer but having not addressed the right-wing problem, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer & co. are set to make renewed attempt to secure the transfer of the 21-year-old again this year.
Sancho is reportedly seeking a return to England at the end of the season, which bodes well for Manchester United but Dortmund are holding out for a transfer fee of £100 million for their prized asset, who played a starring role in their DFB-Pokal triumph earlier this week against RB Leipzig in the final.
And, in order to reduce that price tag, Manchester United are now considering using Jesse Lingard as a makeweight. The Red Devils’ academy graduate has found a new lease of life after switching to West Ham United on a loan deal during the January transfer window. The in-form player in the English top-flight, Lingard was named the Premier League Player of the Month for April earlier this week.
West Ham are keen on making his transfer permanent at the end of the season but the England international’s £100,000-a-week wages could prove to be a stumbling block for the Hammers, as per the report. Dortmund, meanwhile, have been said to be keeping close tabs on the 28-year-old Lingard and are hoping to sign him up at the end of the season.
Manchester United, West Ham or something even better – What’s next for Jesse Lingard? | THT Opinions
And, Manchester United are keen on making the most of this interest in their academy graduate by using him in a part-exchange deal for Sancho. Lingard, as per the report, is valued at £20 million despite him being set to enter the final year of his contract with the 20-time English champions. So, his inclusion in a deal to secure Sancho could help United save some cash in the deal.
Lingard, for his part, is seeking a permanent exit from Manchester United and could now be set for a stint in the Bundesliga, should Dortmund agree to the player-plus-cash offer for Sancho come summer. It remains to be seen if such a deal sees the light of the day.
Lingard will decide where he goes not Man Utd.