(Football news) It was in 1938 that Manchester United named an academy graduate in their first team squad and since then, they have fielded at least one in every single matchday team. A staggering record to say the least and an insight over how much of a priority the development of youth is placed at this historic football club. From the likes of George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton, Duncan Edwards, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, this tradition has withstood the test of time and has become deeply rooted in the club’s DNA.
One such academy graduate is Jesse Lingard, who made his Manchester United debut in the 2014 – 2015 season and is known for his tireless work rate, link up play and important goals. However, Lingard has not had the easiest time at Manchester United in recent years. The 28 year old suffered from mental health issues recently that almost made him take a break from football. His on field slump combined with off field issues led Manchester United to buy Bruno Fernandes, who has been an instant hit at the club and one of the first names in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team sheet. Unfortunately, that has meant that Lingard has been pushed down the pecking order, especially considering that Donny Van De Beek can also play in a similar position.
Lingard was loaned out to West Ham last season and hit the ground running instantly. The England international scored eight goals and registered three assists in nine games for The Hammers and looked to be back to his scintillating best in the London side. With the season having reached a conclusion, Lingard is back at Manchester United, hoping to maintain momentum at the club he joined as a seven year old. The summer transfer window has concluded and it’s clear that Lingard will not be going anywhere until January at the earliest. His chances at the first team look bleak at best, especially considering that Manchester United have plenty of attacking prowess in Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Donny Van De Beek who can all excel in a similar position.
It’s important to remember though that players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Martial are not known for their workrate and a player like Lingard will balance the side by doing the running on their behalf. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to learn from last season’s mistakes by rotating Bruno Fernandes, especially for the FA Cup and League Cup fixtures and using Donny Van De Beek as a number 6, a position that the Dutch midfielder is familiar with when he began his career at Ajax. Manchester United may need Lingard to provide squad depth, but the England International will be justified in seeking a move away. The 28 year old is no longer a young prospect and needs regular playing time at the peak of his career.
For those who have followed Lingard’s career, it’s clear that the player considers Old Trafford his home and would prefer to excel at Manchester United than anywhere else. However, it seems that unless he is content with being a squad player, he needs to seek a move elsewhere. With reports already in about Lingard rejecting a new contract offer with only one year remaining on his existing deal, his reasons to seek a move away are not only justified but also logical.
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