This could very well be Jesse Lingard’s last season at Manchester United with Mino Raiola on the lookout for a potential destination.
According to a report published by The Athletic, Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard could be on the move with Arsenal on the lookout for the Englishman.
The 27-year-old, once regarded as a prodigy, has had the world turn on its head for him over the duration of the last 2 seasons.
Lingard played 27 games in the 2018/19 season, with most of his starts coming in the Mourinho era, starting as a No. 10 or on the right wing. But since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Lingard has mostly been out of favour.
Moreover, he has gone without scoring or assisting in the Premier League for a majority of Ole’s tenure at Manchester United. This amounts to over a year of PL action, including the 20 games he has played this season. His last goal came against Cardiff City last season, which was the Norwegian’s first game in-charge.
Lingard’s performances have declined over time and he has also been incapable of pulling defenders his way being the extra man in attack. Lingard has an exceptionally low creative output, especially for a man in an attacking midfield position.
He has created the 5th most chances of the 29 players who have played in central attacking midfield roles, but his xG from these chances is 28th best in the league, which is underwhelming to say the very least.
However, Lingard is a great connector, and mover of the ball. He is also great at moving into spaces without the ball – maybe not so much in the penalty area though. Besides that, playing in an attacking midfield role and constantly moving the ball around suits him.
Arsenal could make do with a player who is of the profile of Jesse Lingard. As reported by The Athletic, they don’t have the budget to fund their pursuit of Dani Ceballos who has blown hot and cold this season in England and has been out of favour under Mikel Arteta.
However, Lingard could be a blessing in disguise for the London team, especially if they manage to hold on to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Lingard could work well without the ball drawing defenders to him, while Granit Xhaka or David Luiz play a ball over them to the Gabonese striker.
Moreover, Arsenal are more or less done with Mesut Ozil, who is visibly declining. The German star will turn 32 this year and will not be able to keep up with the pace of the Premier League.
Lingard has extra incentive to leave his boyhood club, after they signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting in a very similar position. Moreover, it is reported that Ed Woodward is trying to bring in Jack Grealish, who is more than capable of playing as an attacking midfielder.
There is no reported price set on Lingard, but with Raiola in charge of the transfer, we can expect inflated prices, and an extensive, over-stretched transfer saga.
