Jesse Lingard's brother has blasted Manchester United for apparently preventing the midfielder's move to Newcastle with huge loan demands.
The 29-year-old outcast has barely played for the Red Devils this season, with several Premier League sides interested in signing him before the January transfer window closes on Monday.
But United have reportedly set eye-wateringly high demands for a temporary switch to the Magpies, leading Lingard's brother Louie Scott to compare his sibling's situation at Old Trafford to that of a prisoner.
Scott posted on his Instagram account a year to the day after Lingard joined West Ham on loan, with a picture of the United academy product celebrating a goal for the Hammers.
The caption read: 'A year ago today he was 'allowed' out on day release,' followed by three cry-laughing emojis, with 'Now we know what Akon felt like,' written underneath the image.
American-Senegalese artist Akon's lead single from his hit debut album was 'Locked Up', a track containing the lyrics: 'I'm locked up, they won't let me out'.
Lingard joined West Ham on loan in January 2021, having not played a single league game that season for United, and played a starring role in David Moyes' side qualifying for Europe - scoring nine and assisting five in just 16 appearances.
With plenty of interest after that successful loan, former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer persuaded him to stay and fight for his place but froze him out, with that situation unchanged despite the arrival of new manager Ralf Rangnick.
Lingard has played 88 minutes in the league and made two starts in all competitions this season, but United seem intent on making it tricky for him to leave despite reported interest from Newcastle, West Ham, Leicester, Everton and Aston Villa.