Manchester United Confirm Jesse Lingard's Exit

Manchester United confirm the departure of Jesse Lingard.

Reports say the 29-year-old Lingard is out of contract and has been planning to leave for a while.

Lingard, who is under contract with Manchester United until 2020, was on loan at West Ham last season and they want to bring him back.

The England international joined the United academy at the age of seven and was a member of the 2011 FA Youth Cup-winning squad.

Lingard made his United debut in 2014 and has played consistently for the team since then. He was a key player in the FA Cup victory in 2016.

Lingard has been a prolific scorer in the last couple of years for Manchester United and won both the Community Shield and League Cup. Last year he was also part of the triumphant Europa League team.

When Lingard was in the form of his life under Van Gaal and Mourinho, he quickly fell from grace once Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became permanent manager.

Lingard went more than two years without a Premier League start until he lined up against Leeds in February and he endured a 19-month league goal drought.

West Ham signed Lingard on loan in January last year and he scored nine goals in 16 appearances. West Ham were prepared to sign him permanently for £25million but Solskjaer demurred and Lingard stayed. He only started four times under Solskjaer and interim manager Ralf Rangnick last term.

Lingard was allegedly at fault of a slew of social media posts, including a video where he made inappropriate remarks as the team bus arrived for the final game at the Boleyn Ground in May 2016. He also made an infamous video during a holiday in 2019.

One criticism against Lingard's brother Louie Scott is his social media activity this season, due to United's challenges.

Lingard scored 35 goals in 232 games for United.