Back in 2018 things couldn’t get much better for Jesse Lingard. The forward was an influential mainstay for both Manchester United and England.

Unfortunately the same can’t be said now that we are coming to the end of 2020. The attacker has been dropped by both his club and his country.

The twenty-seven year old has made just two appearances for The Red Devils this term, both coming in the League Cup. The player can’t be happy kicking his heels in the stands.

His United contract will come to an end next sumner (although his current employers do have an option of extending that deal by another season) and he has to think that a change of scenery will be his best chance of getting his career back on track.

Sky Sports are reporting that Lingard’s representatives are exploring the option of their client going out on loan for the rest of the season, once the transfer window reopens in January. That report suggests that La Liga side Real Sociedad could be a possible destination, while the Daily Record have also linked the England international with a loan move to one of Rangers or Celtic.

But I am wondering if he’ll be better served staying in the Premier League, which would be the ideal place for him to once again grab the attention of England boss Gareth Southgate.

Looking at possible clubs that could be interested in his signature and that would suit him as a player and I think the two that stand out are Leicester City and West Ham United.

They are two teams that work hard, probably want to add a bit more creativity within their ranks and who are currently sitting in the top half of the league table. That last point could be vital for Lingard, he’s a player that will be more suited to a team that is in high spirits and not one currently fighting off relegation.

Brendan Rodgers is known for getting the best of of his attacking players. At Liverpool he got the best out of Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez. At Celtic he managed to revitalise the career of Scott Sinclair. While Jamie Vardy is once again shining with The Foxes.

At Leicester, Jesse would still need to fight for his place. But Rodgers does like to see two playing just behind Vardy and I can imagine that Lingard would have a good impact on young attack minded players like James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Cengiz Under.

Rodgers likes to see his teams playing on the front foot and that could excite the twenty-seven year old forward.

At West Ham, he would be working under David Moyes again.

Moyes likes his wide players to be efficient, hard-working and not to stick to the flanks. Mikel Arteta, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar spring to mind as the types that the Scot likes to deploy in his creative positions and Lingard fits that mould of player.

As Man United chased down a Champions League place last term, Lingard scored in a vital game against Leicester City. After that game teammate Bruno Fernandes was full of praise for Jesse and in particular his work-ethic:

‘For me Jesse deserved this goal because for what he works all week, for all the comments everyone is saying about him and other players because they don’t play too much or they don’t play good enough. 

‘I think this is the reason Jesse scored because we’re training hard, training hard to help all the team.’

Via The Daily Mail

It’s that sort of attitude, determination and his hard work that should impress the likes of Brendan Rodgers and David Moyes.

When at his best Jesse Lingard can unlock defences, find space in crowded areas and grab very important goals. He should look at Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Chris Smalling and see that you can kick-start your career away from Old Trafford!

Posted on December 7th, 2020 by scott
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