$41M Star May Return To Manchester United To Give 'Competition' To Bruno Fernandes: Paul Scholes

Jesse Lingard could return to Manchester United next season as he can give competition to Bruno Fernandes, according to former Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes.

In the last two seasons, Lingard scored a total of nine goals in as many as 76 competitive appearances for Manchester United. In the first half of the 2020-21 campaign, Lingard was included in only three games, all of which came in Cup matches. During the 2021 January transfer window, Lingard convinced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to allow him to leave on a loan deal for the rest of the season. He joined West Ham and since then, he has managed to revive his career.

Ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final second-leg fixture against Granada, Scholes said that the Red Devils let Lingard go because the player deserved a chance for what he has done throughout his life for his boyhood club.

"Selfishly we could have kept him because he’s always got a part to play. Jesse is a fantastic lad around the place, Man United through and through, never once did he moan or cause me a problem. He just came in, worked really hard and deserved a chance to play more football. That’s why we let him go to West Ham because he deserved a chance for what he’s done throughout his life at Man United," Scholes was quoted by talkSport, as saying, in an interview.

In nine Premier League appearances, Lingard has netted eight goals and four assists and has boasted West Ham to fourth place in the league table. Lingard’s dream run at West Ham has also led to his return to the England national team. He played in all three World Cup qualifiers during the March international break, which was his first England appearance since 2019.

Portuguese midfielder Fernandes, who has been in an exceptional form since his arrival at Old Trafford last year, has taken over "Jesse’s favored position." Fernandes has netted 36 goals and 22 assists in 70 first-team appearances since his Manchester United debut in February 2020.

"I hope he’s [Jesse] got a strong finish to the league. It was different here, the form Bruno [Fernandes] has played in arguably in Jesse’s favored position. Jesse needed to play football – he needed a chance – and West Ham gave him that chance. I know the quality Jesse has. I worked with Jesse as an 18/19-year-old as a coach so I know the quality he possesses. He’s been sensational. For Ole, I think it would be great to have him back to give some competition to Bruno Fernandes," added Scholes in the same interview.

While Manchester United may want to have Lingard back for the next season, it was earlier reported that West Ham are highly impressed with Lingard’s performances and are planning to do "whatever it takes" to buy the young midfielder permanently this summer.

Lingard’s loan deal at West Ham does not include a buy-out clause and if the London Stadium club wants to buy the player, he won’t come for cheap, especially since he still has a year left in his contract with Manchester United. It is understood that West Ham may have to shell out at least $41 million to buy Lingard.