Arsenal ‘would not rule out’ Jesse Lingard transfer with Man Utd midfielder facing battle to stay at boyhood club
MANCHESTER UNITED may be left with few options to sell Jesse Lingard at the end of the season but Arsenal reportedly remain a feasible buyer.
SunSport last month detailed that the midfielder is heading towards the Old Trafford exit door with his career at his boyhood club hanging in the balance.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has long spoken of a clearout being required and Lingard, 27, could join Andreas Pereira in being allowed to leave at the end of the season.
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In terms of United's Premier League adversaries who may be ready to pull off a deal for the Warrington-born player, Arsenal are described as best-placed.
write of how the Gunners are no stranger to dealing with the Red Devils and will likely need a replacement for loanee Dani Ceballos once the campaign ends.
Transfer chief Raul Sanllehi is rated as among the most likely in the division to give Lingard's agent Mino Raiola a call, with Wolves, Watford and Sheffield United considered other plausible destinations based on their tactical set-up and market needs.
Exactly what price tag United put on their academy product will hold sway over many teams' decision to bid - especially as the coming transfer window will be set against the backdrop of a pandemic-induced financial crash.
Lingard's value to Solskjaer appears to have decreased since Bruno Fernandes' positive arrival in the north-west.
But a place in the midfield could nonetheless open up if Paul Pogba departs and the Norwegian lands neither Jack Grealish or James Maddison.
From abroad, Roma and Atletico Madrid have been linked with Lingard despite a return of just two goals and two assists in 35 appearances this season.
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Last month, former United coach Rene Meulensteen compared the England international to Andres Iniesta in insisting he just needs time to re-find his form.
He said: "Louis [van Gaal] was very big on bringing young players through and Jesse got the chance to suddenly play in the first team and so did [Marcus] Rashford.
"That's the luck that you need and certain managers can see it.
"Jesse always had attributes in his game as Iniesta had for Barcelona."