Solskjaer wary of potential Man Utd stat coming true as rift with Lingard emerges

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jesse Lingard Man Utd

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is currently in disagreement with Jesse Lingard about the midfielder’s future, a report has claimed.

Lingard is keen to move away from Old Trafford and resurrect his career with a spell of football elsewhere.

After starring for United in recent seasons, culminating in a place at the 2018 World Cup, he has become frozen out. Indeed, he has only made three appearances this term.

Previous reports have suggested that Inter Milan and Nice are among the clubs looking to sign the 28-year-old in January.

According to ESPN, however, Solskjaer is wary of trimming his squad too much.

The Red Devils have already sold Timothy Fosu-Mensah to Bayer Leverkusen, while Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo are free to talk to overseas clubs.

As such, losing as many as four squad players would prove too much for the manager.

United realise that they could play as many as 34 games before the end of the season. That would assume that the club reached the finals of the FA Cup and the Europa League.

Is it a risk for Lingard to leave Utd?

Is it a risk for Lingard to leave Utd?

Speaking on The Transfer Show, Dharmesh Sheth and Kaveh Solhekol discuss whether Jesse Lingard would be taking a risk if he was to leave Old Trafford in the transfer window.

Such a run would take its toll on United’s first-choice options and allow more game time for fringe players. What’s more, those 34 games would come in a much shorter time frame than in usual circumstances.

Therefore, while Solskjaer feels ‘sympathetic’ to Lingard’s wishes, he is planning for all possibilities and wants to keep him in his squad.

In any case, United have yet to give clubs keen on the midfielder a solid yes or no on his availability.

Lingard impresses despite lack of action

Elsewhere in the report, ESPN claims that, despite Lingard’s lack of action, he continues to impress United staff.

Solskjaer admires the way that the midfielder is committing himself in training, despite being aware of his restricted role.

Lingard also regularly finishes top in the performance data statistics in sessions with his teammates.

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