Jesse Lingard's Representatives Hold Talks With Ligue 1 Club Over Loan Move

Ligue 1 side OGC Nice have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Jesse Lingard over a possible loan move.

The 28-year-old, who has made just three appearances for Manchester United this season, has not started a Premier League game for over a year.

He did, however, make his first start for the club in three-and-a-half months during the FA Cup win against Watford on Saturday, but reports suggest Lingard could be on his way out of Old Trafford in January, with a number of clubs interested in his signature.

Premier League strugglers Sheffield United have reportedly made Lingard one of their top targets in the window, meanwhile Serie A giants Inter Milan are also said to keen on bringing the 28-year-old midfielder in on loan, according to The Mirror.

But perhaps the strongest links come from Ligue 1 side OGC Nice, who have already held initial discussions with Lingard's representatives over a potential loan deal, with an official approach expected in the next week.

Sky Sports suggest Manchester United have 'yet to decide' whether to allow Lingard to leave in the transfer window.

Jesse Lingard has fallen down the pecking order under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and will be a free agent next summer. Image: PA

The news comes just days after former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov insisted that Lingard must leave Old Trafford to salvage his playing career.

When asked what Lingard should do in regards to his future, the 39-year-old Bulgarian did not hold back.

"Honestly, his time is up. He's not playing. He had his chances to shine, to prove how good he is, how good he can be. It shows that, for the moment, Ole does not trust him enough to play him." he told Stadium Astro.

"And, honestly, he doesn't have anywhere to play in the team right now."

Berbatov continued, saying: "So, when you've been so long in one team and, coming to 28 [years old], you have to look back and say, 'Did I achieve enough? Am I happy with what I've done here? Is my time up?'

"So, I think he needs to move, he needs to go somewhere else to play.

"It's going to be a lesser team than United, but as long as he gets more playing time to get back to doing what he can do, because I remember him starting for England and scoring goals for England.

"But now that is all gone in my opinion and he needs to rediscover some of the form that he used to have before."

Topics: Football News, Football, Ligue 1, Transfers, Jesse Lingard

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

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