Jesse Lingard is reportedly unsure whether or not he wants to return to Manchester United despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisting he wants him back for next season.
The midfielder has been in remarkable form since joining West Ham on loan in January, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in just nine matches for the club.
Lingard's brilliant performances has helped push the Hammers into contention for a Champions League place, earned him a recall to the England squad and caught the eye of his boss Solskjaer.
'Jesse has been brilliant since he left,' said Solskjaer ahead of United's Europa League clash against Granada on Thursday.
'Selfishly, we could have kept him because he's always got a part to play. Jesse is a fantastic lad around the place, he's Man Utd through and through, and never once did he moan or cause me a problem. He just came in and worked really hard and he deserved a chance to play more football, that's why we let him go to West Ham because he deserved a chance for what's he's done throughout his life for Man Utd.
'We will welcome him back. I hope he'll go to the Euros with his performances now and the confidence he has got, I don't think that's beyond him, and I hope he has a strong finish to the league.
'Then, it was different here because Bruno [Fernandes] the form he has shown and he played arguably in Jesse's favoured position and that was just a decision we made. I'm delighted for Jesse and wish him all the best for the rest of the season until he comes back.'
However, according to Goal, the 28-year-old is considering his United future with a number of clubs in the Premier League and abroad, including West Ham, enquiring about his services in recent weeks.
David Moyes is desperate to sign £30million-rated Lingard on a permanent basis but knows his side must finish in the top four to give themselves the best chance of sealing his signature.
The Hammers have got concerns that Lingard's red-hot run of form could see United drive up his asking price but have reportedly vowed not to be bullied by them in negotiations.
United are preparing an £80million package to sign West Ham's midfielder Declan Rice this summer, but the club are hesitant to include him in any deal for Lingard, who could still return to Old Trafford, having been given assurances of more playing time.
As reported by Sportsmail on Wednesday, Rice could be interested in a move to United, having asked Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw for the lowdown on the club during England's camp for their World Cup qualifiers last month.
Rice has been one of West Ham's standout performers this season, playing in all but two of their Premier League matches.
wioacekmot
421
The idea of players going on loan is to give them more playing time to make them develop and improve. It in no way signifies that the club or Coach hates the player. If ManU did not want Lingard, they would have sold him rather than loan him to Westham. Because a player improves his performance while on loan to another Club does not mean he must be sold to that club, it only meant that, ManU has another quality option in the midfield come next season. If ManU sales lingard to Westham, it then means that the essence of the loan is defeated. Westham have also benefited from the loan and they should leave it at that, after all, ManU has been paying more than half his salary while there, so if anybody should benefit from the loan,it should be ManU and not Westham. If Lingard feels, he has the quality to play for ManU, he should come back and fight for a regular start, that is what differentiates the men from the boys.
The_Red_Devil
231
I love Lingard. United blood runs through his vein. But realistically, he can't replace bruno and he deserves to be in first XI playing week in week out. For our love of him, we should let him go and let him be happy and become the best as player he can be somewhere else. Once a red always a red 🔴🔴🔴