Manchester United are reportedly willing to part with Jesse Lingard and offer him to Leicester City in a player plus £45 million deal for James Maddison.
Manchester United have finally decided to move Jesse Lingard on, as per The Mirror. The player is set to be offered to Leicester City in a part exchange deal that will see United pay an additional £45 million in cash in order to convince the Foxes to send James Maddison the other way.
The aforementioned report iterates that Lingard is currently valued at around £40 million and United feel the combined offer would be a just one for Maddison. Manchester United are also prepared to almost triple Maddison’s wages to £150,000 per week, which Leicester would struggle to match, with their highest paid player, Jamie Vardy only on £140,000 per week.
There are further reports that state that Lingard is also prepared to start a new chapter in his footballing journey and has teamed up with Mino Raiola to find him a suitable home. Manchester United are reportedly aware of this progress and are prepared to let Lingard leave, be it via this proposition or otherwise.
James Maddison has had a mercurial rise; going from one of the bright up-and-coming playmakers in Championship for Norwich City to an absolute beast in the Premier League for Leicester City. Maddison hit the ground running in the English top-tier and hasn’t looked back since, firmly establishing himself among the creative supremos in the Premier League.
As far as Manchester United are concerned, the Red Devils have lacked a proper number 10 that fits the philosophy of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, which has been one of the major reasons of the team being unable to break down sturdy and compact defences.
Lingard and Andreas Pereira are good options for high pressing, but lack the creative impetus that Juan Mata provides, who doesn’t have the same pace and work-rate to press high and effectively. Angel Gomes hasn’t been afforded an opportunity owing likely to his indecisiveness over signing a new deal, with his current contract set to end in the summer.
Talking about new deals, Leicester are in talks with Maddison’s camp and are eager for the playmaker to commit his future to the Foxes, with his current deal only having 18 months left.
While a January deal is most likely out of the window, with Maddison likely to see where United end up this season, Manchester United would be perfectly poised to land the 23-year-old in the summer transfer window if the Leicester star doesn’t sign a new deal by then.
