West Brom set to swoop as PL attacker left out of FA Cup squad, player free to leave – report
West Brom are chasing a loan move for Jesse Lingard with the Manchester United midfielder’s request to leave accepted by boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
That is according to the Telegraph who report that Lingard is desperate to kick-start his career after a disappointing couple of years.
He was left out of the 20-man squad for Sunday’s FA Cup win against Liverpool casting further doubts on his future.
The Telegraph report that Lingard’s request for a transfer has been accepted by Solskjaer with the 28-year-old keen to remain in England despite overseas interest.
However, while Lingard’s manager has given his approval to a move the final decision will rest with the Manchester United board before anything is officially sanctioned.
If he is allowed to leave Albion will have to battle it out alongside a host of Premier League rivals with Newcastle United, West Ham and Sheffield United all vying for his signature.
Undoubted star quality
It would be a big coup for West Brom if they were able to persuade Lingard to make a temporary switch to The Hawthorns.
Granted, he has endured a fairly torrid couple of years or so and has failed to make a Premier League appearance for the Red Devils this season.
But do not forget this is a player who starred for England and scored a stunner in the World Cup in 2018.
In the season leading up to that tournament in Russia Lingard contributed to 13 Premier League goals (eight goals, five assists) across 33 games, with 13 of these as a substitute.
He might be out of favour at Old Trafford but given the big-name talents in their squad including the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba this is no slight on Lingard’s ability, while he has also suffered some personal problems.
Lingard is looking for rejuvenation and if Big Sam can convince him to swap the league leaders for a side battling for survival this will be a terrific show of ambition from the West Brom board.
In other West Brom news, Albion hold talks over short-term striker switch.
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