Varun Pai
Newcastle United look to beat the competition to sign Jesse Lingard from Manchester United in January
According to the Northern Echo (h/t Manchester Evening News), Newcastle United have prioritized the transfer of Jesse Lingard from Manchester United in January.
The winger has failed to feature prominently for the Red Devils this season. He had a stellar loan spell at West Ham last season, helping them seal Europa League qualification. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked recently, used Lingard only as an impact substitute.
The academy graduate might have had enough and could push for a move soon. His contract shall come to an end next summer, and he has rejected a contract extension recently.
Several clubs are lining up to secure his signature, but Newcastle United are looking to beat the competition. The Geordies were recently acquired by the Saudi-led consortium and are now the richest club in the world.
They also sacked Steve Bruce last month to begin a new era at the club. After discussion, they landed on the appointment of former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe. The English manager has the experience of managing clubs in the relegation battle and has an attractive playing style.
He is also looking to make mid-season additions to his squad to keep the club in the top flight next season. In doing so, he has put Lingard at the top of his priority list.
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However, there are no guarantees whether the 28-year-old would be interested in joining the Magpies. The English international performed well for a top-half club in West Ham, and joining the Toon Army could be a step-down.
Moreover, he might not want to play in the Championship if Newcastle cannot stave off relegation. Thus, Howe might be looking to make Lingard the first signing of his era, but the player is likely to make the final decision on his future.
