Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder will be disappointed to see news reports this morning suggesting Jesse Lingard could be on his way to Everton.
The Blades boss is looking to wheel and deal in the window with limited funds. Wilder is already setting things in motion by allowing Benie Traore to leave. The striker is expected to join Nantes shortly.
That will free up a space in the squad and some money.
However, one man who doesn’t look like being available for United to sign is former Manchester United midfielder, Jesse Lingard.
According to TalkSPORT, Everton are set to offer Lingard a contract as they look to offer him a lifeline.
Lingard has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.
Sheffield United won’t be signing Jesse Lingard
Despite there being no ‘official’ links to Lingard from United, the player is someone Chris Wilder admires.
The Blades boss tried to sign him back in 2020 before West Ham snapped him up. Lingard then starred for the Hammers as United looked on at what might have been.
At the time, Lingard explained his move to West Ham was down to David Moyes.
“He (Moyes) has been really good,” Lingard told the BBC Football Daily Podcast.
“I knew him from my time at Man United and we had a conversation back then. Me and my family with him about letting me go on loan to Birmingham and obviously he let me go on loan there. West Ham was one of the later clubs to come in to get me on loan on deadline day and it was only right to repay the favour by coming and helping out here.”
Lingard was bound to be on Wilder’s list for this January. Given he was a free, and of sufficient quality to go right into the starting XI, it would have been amazing had he not been on Wilder’s list.
Sadly, it looks like Everton have got in there first in another blow for United.