Jesse Lingard is reportedly facing a fight to keep his place in the Manchester United pecking order, according to club insiders. The Old Trafford and England midfielder has been at the club since the age of ten but there is a growing feeling the 26-year-old is now under the microscope – certainly as far as boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is concerned.
Lingard has yet to score in 13 appearances this season and the Red Devils are expecting much more from their Warrington-born academy graduate.
His recent performances have received criticism from some sections of the United support due to the lack of creativity coming out of the United engine room.
Lingard has just two years left on his existing £110,000-per-week contract and United have been taking their time over the renewal talks.
He is now one of the more senior players in Solskjaer’s young squad, ramping up the pressure on him to now lead from the front in the bigger games.
Lingard can certainly expect improved pay terms in the coming weeks, as the Manchester giants simply endeavour to protect an asset that would still recoup a significant transfer fee should they decide at some stage in the future to part company.
United’s scouts are presently taking a closer look at a host of creative midfielders, with Leicester City and England star James Maddison a top target for Solskjaer.
The Norwegian has also looked at Tottenham Hotspur’s creative spark Christian Eriksen, who is available on a free transfer at the end of this season, and so Lingard is acutely aware the pressure will only increase for him to deliver on a more consistent basis.
Lingard has made a total of 180 appearances for United, scoring 40 goals, suggesting it is perhaps more a lack of direct assists that has left question marks hanging over him.
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