Man United WILL trigger 12-month extension in Jesse Lingard's contract

Manchester United will extend Jesse Lingard's contract to ensure the midfielder cannot leave for nothing in 2021.

As it stands, the 28-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the season meaning he can negotiate with overseas clubs from next week with a view to signing a pre-contract agreement for the 2021-22 campaign.

However, the four-year deal that Lingard signed in 2017 included an option for it to be extended for a further 12 months, which United are expected to exercise in the coming days.

The Warrington-born player has risen through the academy to make more than 200 appearances for United, winning the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League along the way.

However, although he will not be allowed to leave on a free, the midfielder's long-term future at Old Trafford is still unclear.

Lingard is attracting plenty of interest from across the Premier League and Europe as he considers his future heading into the January transfer window.

The midfielder, who was one of England's key players in their run to the World Cup semi-final in 2018, has made just two appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team this season — both coming in the Carabao Cup.

The last of his 24 caps was against Switzerland in June 2019.

The contract extension could open up the possibility of United loaning out Lingard when the window reopens next Friday with a view to taking a definitive decision on his long-term future at the end of the season.