Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed on The Done Deal Show that Newcastle United may not reignite their interest in January target Jesse Lingard.
As Newcastle looked to bolster their squad and try to hand Eddie Howe the tools required to keep them in the Premier League, PIF and the Magpies turned to Manchester United outcast Lingard, with the player thought to be eager on a move to Tyneside, only for the Red Devils to reject any proposal.
While this may have angered Lingard given that he only went on to feature a further seven times this season after that failed move, Newcastle managed to stay up very comfortably and finished in an impressive 11th place – but that doesn’t mean they are no longer interested in the midfielder.
Having spoken to Lingard’s agent, Jacobs has revealed how close a deal was to take Lingard up north, and that Newcastle’s survival means they may move on to other targets.
He said: “Newcastle have changed their approach now because they’ve guaranteed safety, so of course, Lingard was a player that they wanted in January, and they would have definitely taken him over Chris Wood, because Lingard was in-form if you judge him by what he’d done at West Ham, and basically half the price of Chris Wood with, on paper, more goals and possibly a more long-term player for Newcastle.
Should Newcastle sign Lingard?
Yes!
No!
“Obviously, if Newcastle start challenging for the Champions League, Chris Wood is not going to be playing week-in, week-out, so could find himself as a bit of a loose end there. So if we’re judging it historically, Lingard, having spoken to his agent, was very close to Newcastle – it was only Manchester United that blocked that deal at the last minute.
“Lingard and his people and Newcastle thought that was done, but I don’t really see Newcastle fighting that hard again to sign Lingard, because they’re looking at a slightly higher or more prolific calibre of strikers to work alongside Callum Wilson, who’s obviously also getting on a bit, and move above Chris Wood in the pecking order.
“So Lingard would be a good squad player for Newcastle, but I’m not convinced that he plays week in week out.”
TIF Thoughts on Lingard…
While Newcastle may have happily taken Lingard this summer – especially considering he would arrive with no transfer fee – it has also been reported that his wage demands are way above what the Magpies would be willing to pay.
Considering that the midfielder hardly featured under the previous two Man United managers, this may also point towards there being a problem with the player rather than the club, and there would also be no guarantee that he would rediscover the form that saw him excel at West Ham during the 2020/21 season.