Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that Mason Greenwood's arrest did have some part to play in Jesse Lingard staying at Manchester United, but it's not the only reason.
Lingard was expected to leave in the January transfer window on loan, as he did the year before, having failed to start a Premier League game this season.
A move to West Ham, where he'd been highly successful previously, was one option for Lingard, whilst Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur were also reportedly interested.
However, in the end the 29-year-old ended up staying at United, with just six months on his contract left to run, meaning he can soon leave for nothing.
Understandably it was thought that Greenwood's arrest, and the club announcing the forward would not train or play for the team for the foreseeable future, had an impact on Lingard not being allowed to leave. On Thursday Rangnick confirmed this was partially the case.
"In a way, yes," the interim boss said at his pre match press conference ahead of the FA Cup fourth round when asked if the Greenwood situation impacted the transfer.
"But in the end, the club told me, the board told me, they couldn't find an agreement with any of those clubs that were interested in him.
"With the window closing on Monday evening, in the afternoon the board informed me they would rather he stay, and this was a decision I could fully understand and accept.
"So it was two things: we had a problem with Mason Greenwood and being without a player for the time being who has played regularly in the last couple of weeks and the club not finding an agreement with another club.
"Jesse 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, back for training and then be part of the regular squad again."
The interim boss also revealed that the former Birmingham City loanee had originally told him three weeks ago that he was happy to stay at Old Trafford.
Having changed his mind but not been given the move, Lingard asked for a few days off to clear his head so will miss the Cup tie with Championship side Middlesbrough on Friday.
Whilst Lingard, and Edinson Cavani, are set to miss out, Rangnick did confirm that Paul Pogba should be back in the squad, having been out injured since the beginning of November.
The France midfielder's contract is also due to expire in the summer but he will reportedly agree to a new deal, if Rangnick stays on as manager.
Topics: Jesse Lingard, Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick, Mason Greenwood, Premier League, Transfers, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, West Ham United
Ryan Sidle