Lingard only leaves Man Utd in January if he wants to move abroad

The 29-year-old is struggling for game time for the Red Devils this season despite impressing at

in the second half of the previous season.

scored nine goals and provided six assists for

David Moyes

’ side during his six-month loan before returning to

in the summer.

Lingard was used rarely by

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

upon his return to Old Trafford. However, following the Norwegian's departure in November, there is optimism within the midfielder's camp that he may still have a future at the club, although he has not started under interim manager

Ralf Rangnick

.

His current contract is due to expire at the conclusion of the season, and a new agreement is unlikely to be agreed between two sides.

Lingard has long been linked with a return to West Ham, while

have expressed their desire to bring him to St James' Park as part of

Eddie Howe

's reconstruction.

However, sources close to the player have revealed to

that it seems a mid-season exit is already off the cards, with the player determined to stay until the summer before leaving as a free agent,

Lingard is said to be quite interested in playing overseas. We disclosed in the summer that

were interested in a deal, and they are one of several teams interested in Lingard - and they'll be free to offer him a pre-contract starting in January.

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