Lingard is teaming-up with super agent Raiola who just criticized Man Utd (Mail)

Manchester United star Jesse Lingard is teaming-up with super agent Mino Raiola, Sportsmail understands.

Raiola is understood to be working with the England international, with the partnership said to be part of a wider strategy from the agent to establish links with more English players.

He already looks after the affairs of a number of foreign players playing in England.

News of the link-up is sure to raise eyebrows given Raiola's tempestuous relationship with United.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed on Saturday how United attempted to bypass Raiola in their efforts to sign Erling Haaland, who is represented by the agent, from Red Bull Salzburg.

United are aware that Raiola has taken charge of Lingard's affairs, and privately accept that the development may make it more difficult to keep hold of him given their stormy relationship with the agent.

United have found their relationship with the agent beneficial in recent years, Raiola playing a central role in some of the club's most expensive ever transfers, namely Paul Pogba.

The Italian-born agent facilitated client Pogba's switch to Manchester United from Juventus for a world record £89million fee in 2016.

He has also helped bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Romelu Lukaku to Old Trafford.

But the 52-year-old's public persona has irked certain members of the United hierarchy in recent months, particularly in relation to Pogba's future at the club.

'Pogba's problem is Manchester United. It's a club out of touch with reality and without a sporting project,' Raiola said last week.

'I wouldn't take anyone there, they would even ruin Maradona, Pele and Maldini. Paul needs a club and a squad, one like Juventus was before.'

Lingard's alliance with Raiola will raise certain questions about the midfielder's future at United.

The midfielder's existing deal expires at the end of of next season, but there is understood to be an option for a further 12 months.

So his link-up with Raiola arrives at a timely point with the time approaching for United to either extend his contract or listen to offers for their academy graduate.

Lingard has spent his entire career at Old Trafford, emerging through the junior ranks to make close to 200 senior appearances for the club - as well as 24 appearances for England.

But having played a key role for England during their euphoric run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, a loss of form has resulted in Lingard, who has been linked with Leicester, losing his place in Gareth Southgate's squad adding to a view that he may need fresh challenge to reinvigorate his career.