Date published: Wednesday 13th January 2021 9:50
Man Utd attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard is “reluctant” to join Sheffield United because of their precarious position in the Premier League table.
The 28-year-old, who was part of the England side that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, has made just two appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season.
Lingard’s contract was due to expire in the summer but Man Utd have taken up the additional season built into that deal to keep him at the club until 2022.
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The attacking midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford and Solskjaer recently revealed Lingard has had to self-isolate on more than one occasion recently.
“He’s been working hard in training,” the United boss said. “He’s been unfortunate with having to isolate a few times, been in contact, or close contact with Covid, not even having it himself.
“He’s been very unlucky being away from the training ground a few times. He works really hard.”
There has been interest from Sheffield United in the January transfer window with the Blades keen to take Lingard on loan until the end of the season.
However, with Chris Wilder’s side cut adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table, The Athletic claim that Lingard ‘is reluctant to drop into a relegation battle and is happy to bide his time for alternative offers’.
The report adds that ‘conversations have taken place’ over a move to Sheffield United but it ‘appears unlikely that a loan or sale will happen this month’.
Lingard has also been linked with a move to Inter Milan recently with the Sunday Mirror saying that he ‘could do a job’ in Italy.