Jesse Lingard’s representatives ‘hold talks with Nice over a January move’ with the sidelined Man United man looking for more game time after just three appearances this season
- Jesse Lingard is wanted by Nice, who are 13th in the Ligue 1 standings
- The 28-year-old has played three times this season – all in cup competitions
- But last month United extended his contract to run until the summer of 2022
Jesse Lingard could be on the cusp of a Manchester United exit amid reports the player’s representatives have held discussions with Ligue 1 side Nice.
According to Sky Sports, the 28-year-old doesn’t know for certain if he will be allowed to depart United in the January transfer window.
But Lingard has struggled for any sort of regular action in the past 12 months. While he started the FA Cup win over Watford at the weekend, he hasn’t been named in the first-team line-up for a Premier League game in over a year.
Jesse Lingard is a wanted man, with French side Nice interested in signing him in January
The 28-year-old has only played three times this season for United – all in cup matches
Indeed Lingard, who has 24 England caps to his name, has only made three appearances all season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and those matches have all been domestic cup games.
A lack of regular minutes appeared to hinder Lingard’s display against Watford at Old Trafford at the weekend and United legend Rio Ferdinand said that the squad players on show failed to impress.
‘This game was about opportunities for the fringe players,’ Ferdinand said. ‘He’s not a fringe player but (Scott) McTominay was probably the only player who performed to the standard you expect or exceeded that.
‘Maybe a missed opportunity for those trying to force their way into the manager’s plans on a more regular basis. But the most important thing was to get into the next round.’
Last month, United triggered an automatic one-year contract extension to Lingard’s deal, which now runs until the summer of 2022, to avoid him leaving for free in the summer.
Lingard has not been part of an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer side which is beginning to flourish
Solskjaer’s men beat Burnley at Turf Moor to go top of the Premier League on Tuesday night
But he seems surplus to requirements under Solskjaer’s current set-up which, despite a stuttering start to the season, has taken United to the top of the Premier League table.
They defeated Burnley 1-0 on Tuesday night to leapfrog Liverpool to top spot in the standings and they face Jurgen Klopp’s men on Sunday at Anfield.
Nice, meanwhile, currently sit 13th in Ligue 1 but are nine points clear of the drop zone in France.
