Arsenal have reportedly set their sights on signing Manchester United academy product Jesse Lingard, according to The Sun. The Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is willing to make an offer for the player, which will see him earn a weekly salary of £120,000.
If reports are to be believed then the Gunners are interested in signing the player as a result of United’s pursuit of Arsenal’s star playmaker Mesut Ozil. Arsenal are hoping to secure Ozil to a long-term deal at the Emirates, however, negotiations between the German and the club have come to a standstill.
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Reports suggest that Ozil’s wage demand is the main concern for the negotiations to hit a roadblock. The player currently earns £140,000, and reportedly wants a weekly wage of £300,000.
If the Gunners agree to bend to the German international’s demand, it will be a first for them and he will be the highest paid Arsenal player. However, their interest in signing Lingard hints towards the fact they are preparing themselves for the worst case scenario wherein they may lose their most prized asset.
Lingard a Manchester United player since 7
Lingard joined United at the age of seven and progressed through the ranks and has been on United’s books his entire professional career. He signed a contract with the Red Devils in the summer of 2011 and made his professional debut on 6th November 2012 for Leicester City, the club he joined the same day on a one-month loan deal.
A regular feature in England’s U-21 side, Lingard made his full England debut against Malta in October 2016 for World Cup qualifiers, starting on the left-wing in England’s 2-0 victory.
The 23-year-old England international has scored 9 goals for Manchester United. Although Lingard is nowhere near the quality of Ozil, he may become a squad player for the Gunners.
18 months till the end of Ozil’s contract
Ozil has just over 18 months left on his contract at the Emirates. Following the contract impasse, the player has attracted interest from Manchester United, and Real Madrid among other clubs. The Red Devils’ manager Jose Mourinho has worked with the German international during their time together at Real Madrid and is keen on reuniting with the player.
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Signing Lingard will be a questionable decision by the Gunners, however losing Ozil will surely be a much bigger blow to deal with. Arsenal may need to focus on securing Ozil rather than losing him to direct Premier League rivals Manchester United.
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