Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has reportedly turned down the opportunity to join Newcastle on loan until the end of the season, according to Sky Sports.
The 28-year-old looks set to complete a move to West Ham to again link up with David Moyes, having turned down advances from both the Magpies and West Brom.
Lingard has fallen out of favour in Manchester this season, having previously been an important player for both club and country. Indeed, he played in the 2017 Europa League final for the Red Devils when they beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm and was in England’s World Cup squad a year later when they reached the semi-finals.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce would have been undoubtedly boosted by the arrival of Lingard. With goals in short supply at St James’ Park this season, the creative midfielder with a knack for an important goal would have been a welcome addition.
However, the Magpies’ pursuit of another player on the fringes at Old Trafford in Brandon Williams is still on, and Bruce will be determined not to miss out on the full-back with Southampton also interested in the 20-year-old.
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Signing Lingard would have been a huge tonic for a recently forlorn-looking Newcastle side. Despite the England international’s lack of match action this season, there is a very good player in there, one which Bruce would have been keen to try and coax out for the remainder of the season.
Hopefully, this failure isn’t the end of the pursuit of a much-needed attack-minded midfielder for Newcastle. With just three days remaining in the transfer window, the Toon hierarchy need to act fast.
