Newcastle January target Jesse Lingard requests time off after being denied Old Trafford exit

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Ralf Rangnick has confirmed Jesse Lingard has requested a few days off, after the player was denied a move away from Manchester United in January.

The midfielder was expected to depart last month. He had barely been playing for the Red Devils in the first half of the season.

Deadline day rolled around, and Newcastle United were in for the 29-year-old.

The club had been turned down by Hugo Ekitike, and had set their sights on the attacking midfielder.

But news filtered through in the evening of Manchester United’s decision not to permit Lingard an exit.

The move supposedly left the player gutted. And it seems that, days on, he is still not feeling very happy about the situation.

Rangnick has been speaking to the press today ahead of their FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough. And Lingard will not face the Championship side.

Rangnick said (Chronicle): “He asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off just to clear up his mind. He will be back in the group next Monday. He’ll be back for training, and be a regular part of the whole squad again.

Rangnick had at one stage actually given Lingard the green light to leave.

But circumstances have saw Red Devils officials move to prevent Lingard’s departure from Old Trafford. There was also never an agreement with Newcastle.

It remains to be seen now how much he will play in comparison to the first half of the season.

Jesse Lingard clearly wanted to depart, following Newcastle speculation

It is abundantly clear Lingard wanted a move last month.

For the player to request time off to clear his head is a big indicator that he is hung up on the situation.

It is a shame Newcastle were unable to get their man.

Another attacking player in would have been most ideal. Joe Willock and Miguel Almiron have both struggled for form throughout 2021/22.

He’ll be a free agent in the summer. It remains to be seen if Newcastle go back in for him.

There will obviously be no chance if the club get relegated to the Championship.

But if Newcastle survive, the £100,000-a-week star (Daily Mail) is definitely worth trying to sign again. It is still early days for Newcastle under the new owners.

It will still be important to recruit players who have proven themselves in the Premier League in the summer. Lingard has done that and would certainly be low-risk.