Jesse Lingard will leave Manchester United on a free transfer this summer. The 29-year-old had a miserable season at Old Trafford, where he barely got any chances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and interim coach Ralph Ronnick. He was only given one Chance to start in the Premier League, playing just 391 minutes in all competitions. It's no surprise that the attacking midfielder will be leaving after his contract expires, but which team will he join?
Rome
Jesse Lingard's most likely destination now is Serie A, with Roma taking the lead in the scramble. Jesse Lingard spoke with Smalling and Abraham, two Britons who enjoyed successful careers in Rome. Roma has a strong gathering place for former Manchester United staff, as are Mkhitaryan and manager Jose Mourinho.
AC Milan or Inter Milan
Another possible destination in Italy is Milan – including AC Milan and Inter Milan. Jesse Lingard met with another former team-mate, Ibrahimovic, while flying to Milan for a break in March, sparking rumors of a move to San Siro. Milan are actively looking for an attacking midfielder in Pioli's 4-2-3-1 formation. Inter Milan's transfer director, Marotta, meanwhile, is known for his ability to operate free transfers and will take the chance to sign Jesse Lingard.
Newcastle
Newcastle tried to sign Jesse Lingard during the January transfer window, and they had hoped to get their player until Ronnick refused to let the midfielder go. The richest club in world football is likely to continue to pursue Jesse Lingard this summer. Financially, Newcastle will offer him the best offer. The question for Jesse Lingard is whether he wants to wait another year before returning to Europe. He will be 30 later this year and probably doesn't want to wait any longer.
West ham
In the second half of the 2020-21 season, Jesse Lingard spent a brilliant half season on loan at West Ham. During that time, he scored a staggering 9 goals in 16 games and provided 4 assists to bring West Ham into the Europa League. Jesse and West Ham head coach Moyes had wanted to complete a permanent transfer, but the deal could not be reached. This summer, West Ham will surely join the pursuit of him again.
Arsenal
Arsenal were a slightly unexpected choice, having had close ties to Jesse Lingard over the past few years. Arsenal have Smith Rowe and Erder High offensive midfielders, but the Gunners' roster has exposed inexperiencies in recent weeks. Earlier this year it looked like they were ready to return to the Champions League, but now they risk missing the game. Jesse Lingard's experience is exactly what this very young team needs.