Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 11:40 am• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 11:41

Newcastle United have expressed their interest to Jesse Lingard, assured Sky Sports Wednesday. The 29-year-old midfielder has an expiring contract with Manchester United and will not renew it. Lingard is interested in a move to Newcastle, which could potentially take place as early as January. Including the BBC reports on Thursday that Manchester United do not wish to cooperate in a rental period for the midfielder in Newcastle.

With the arrival of Kieran Trippier, Newcastle’s first major purchase under Saudi Arabian rule, Lingard has gained a lot of confidence in the sporting project of the Magpies. Lingard is looking for playing time so as not to lose his place in the England national team. The 34-time international still played for . in October the Three Lions, but was passed during the last international match in November. Ralf Rangnick, however, reportedly does not want to let him go in the meantime, even though the German manager acknowledges that his selection is currently too large.

Newcastle can sign Lingard on a free transfer this summer, but are also looking at the possibility of taking over the midfielder from Manchester United during this transfer window. According to Sky Sports speaks in favor of Newcastle that the club is not currently a direct competitor of the Red Devils. The richest football club in the world thus has an edge over Tottenham Hotspur, which is also in the market for Lingard. It is not yet known whether Newcastle will make another attempt for the Manchester United reserve player.

Lingard had a fantastic loan spell with West Ham United last year and was told in the summer by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he would have a chance at Old Trafford. The Norwegian manager then awarded Lingard only one starting spot, until Solskjaer was sacked in November. Also under his successor Ralf Rangnick, Lingard only started a match once, against Young Boys in the Europa League. This season, he made fourteen official appearances for United, producing two goals and one assist. In total, the counter already stands at 224 games (35 goals and 21 assists) for the club.