Lingard Turns Down New Man United Deal, Demands First-Team Guarantees

According to ESPN, Jesse Lingard has rejected a new contract with Manchester United because he wants assurances about his first-team prospects at Old Trafford.

Lingard is in the final year of his contract with the club and has been offered new terms to extend his stay. However, the England international forward has turned down United’s initial approach and wants to make sure he gets regular playing time before deciding on his future.

If a new contract cannot be reached with United, Lingard, who has made over 200 senior appearances after coming through the academy, will be able to leave as a free agent at the end of the season and begin negotiating with clubs outside of England in January.

The 28-year-old is determined to keep his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He missed out on a place in the Euro 2020 squad by a whisker as England advanced to the final, but he was back in the team for the 4-0 win over Andorra on Sunday, scoring twice and adding an assist.

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Lingard has struggled for playing time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United, but he made an impression on loan at West Ham United last season. He scored nine goals in just 16 appearances after joining on a temporary basis in January, winning both the Premier League player of the month and Premier League goal of the month awards for April.

Despite interest from a number of other Premier League and international clubs during the summer transfer window, Solskjaer was keen to keep Lingard at the club. He has only appeared as a substitute once this season, in a 1-1 draw with Southampton.

After the arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo, there is more competition for places at Old Trafford this season. Daniel James, a winger, signed a £30 million deal with Leeds United on deadline day.