Does Lingard need to leave Manchester United?

Jesse Lingard became a name on everyone’s lips in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign because he took the decision to leave Manchester United. Without that move, he would not be a regular in England squads again. Taking that into account, does history need to repeat itself 12 months on? Another transfer window will swing open in January and it may be that a playmaker struggling for minutes at Old Trafford needs to leap through it.

There will be no shortage of takers. Lingard is a proven performer at the highest level and blends his ability with a bubbly personality that endears him instantly to expectant teammates and demanding fan bases. Walking away from Manchester on a permanent basis would be tough for a home-grown star, with odds to win Premier League 2021/22 from Betfair pricing United at 104/1 to find their form and capture the crown.

West Ham sit a little further down the list of Premier League tips, but they are priced at 7/2 odds to secure a top-four finish and have been impressing both home and abroad. They would also welcome the opportunity to bring Lingard back onto their books. Few risks would be taken in a deal that appears to suit both parties.

If a completely clean slate were to be sought, then leading sides across Europe would be happy to enter into talks with a performer that has shown in the past that he is capable of unlocking the tightest of defences.

Should Lingard seek a switch?

The final call on any decision regarding his future will rest with Lingard. He is in the enviable position of being able to control his own destiny. United have, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer making regular statements in public, made it clear that they will not be forcing a Warrington native out. He may not have a prominent role to play in their plans, but there is still one for him.

Is that enough for a professional of Lingard’s ambition? He should be at the peak of his powers, making it imperative that he finds the right surroundings in which to showcase that talent. Manchester may no longer be that place.

Everyone can use a helping hand…we got there in the end 😅🤝#Jlingz pic.twitter.com/LjvSGvehMK

— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) September 28, 2021

If Gareth Southgate were to start losing interest in catching fleeting glimpses of Lingard stepping off the bench, with a World Cup in 2022 starting to loom into view, the outcome would surely be negative for his career. Time is not a commodity that footballers are blessed with. Theirs is a career that can flash by in the blink of an eye. The intention is to reach retirement with no regrets.

Lingard faces some tough questions, but only he can answer them. With a list of suitors growing by the week, from Newcastle to Barcelona via Aston Villa and West Ham, the time has come for decisive action. Maybe a comfort zone at United remains the best place for him and opportunities will come his way once decisions are taken on the likes of Paul Pogba and Donny van Beek. On the other hand, maybe it isn’t.

Lingard could be a star attraction outside the Theatre of Dreams, rather than one stuck in a galaxy dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo, and he has shown before that January can be the perfect time in which to make brave New Year resolutions.