Ralf Rangnick remains hesitant to let Jesse Lingard leave Manchester United
According to ESPN, Ralf Rangnick is still hesitant to permit Jesse Lingard to leave Manchester United despite interest from five different clubs for his services. The forward is struggling to garner regular playtime at Old Trafford and missed our clash against Brentford thanks to an ankle injury.
Lingard is now in the final six months of his contract and is looking likely to leave Old Trafford sooner or later. He has already rejected a new deal that was put on the table as his objective is to play regularly. He wants to earn a spot in the England squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and garnering regular playing time will aid his cause.
The Englishman has attracted interest from Barcelona, Newcastle United and AC Milan, while Man United have rejected offers from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United for his services. The Red Devils does not entertain the idea of strengthening their direct rivals as the race for the top four places is bound to heat up as the season draws to a close.
Rangnick has made it clear that he wants the 29-year-old to stay at Old Trafford until the end of the 2021-22 campaign. The boss is wary of the current Covid situation and wants to keep the squad intact as much as possible if another potential outbreak occurs within the camp.
While he runs the risk of watching Lingard eventually leave on a free next summer, the player will at the very least provide the Red Devils with enough strength in depth for the remainder of the campaign.
Right decision?
The 63-year-old coach’s decision is backed by a genuine reason since we never know how the coronavirus situation will develop in the coming months. We always have to be on our toes in such cases and one cannot blame Rangnick for putting the team’s benefit ahead of potential financial gain.
The Man United ace has had little to no minutes in the past few matches, a rather unfair fate given how well he performed while on loan at West ham United last season. With the Red Devils still alive and kicking in three competitions, it is possible that Lingard could get opportunities to shine.
Injuries and suspensions are also a part of the game, which could also play a role in the future as a result of the congested fixture list. More games could get postponed, so it is good to have a squad with great depth as it would help mitigate the effects of fatigue.
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The major flaw in Manchester United’s approach is that Lingard could yet join a domestic rival should he choose to do so on a free transfer next summer. At the very least, it will do little to aid our rivals in the race for this season’s UEFA Champions League spots.
For now, Lingard remains a Man United player. Regardless of what happens in the future or not, Rangnick should do all he can to ensure the club benefits from Lingard’s services for as long as he dons the jersey.
