Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick’s decision to bring Jesse Lingard on as a substitute in their FA Cup tie against Aston Villa has either confirmed the player is staying at Old Trafford or ensured that he won’t be playing against the Red Devils in a later round!
Lingard came off the bench with the score at 1-0, coming on with four minutes to play and helping United see out a narrow victory over Steven Gerrard’s side. 
They have subsequently qualified for the fourth round, where they are set to play Middlesbrough in February; the Hammers, by comparison, will face Kidderminster Harriers.
Still, the decision to bring Lingard on means that he is now cup-tied in the competition and if he does complete a move to the London Stadium, as David Moyes wants, he won’t be able to play in any further rounds of the tournament.
Moyes wants to sign Lingard and has told the club’s owners so. A move will be attempted before the January window is out.
But Rangnick has either sent a message to the England international over his future, or merely ensured that Lingard won’t be a threat against them later this season.
It’s a risky game, because it may also have knocked a million quid or so off the asking price, which may well stand at around £5m in this transfer window.
We’ll have to wait and see whether this has any sort of impact on the negotiations.
Can’t see logic in chasing Lingard, our midfield players are all in top form. Left side CB and,FB must be the priority as scoring goals not a problem, letting them in is!
Hugh, I don’t think well ever find out.
This morning Talksport’s Jim White suggested that Lingard would stay at Manchester United unril his contract expires at the end of the season. I read that as a smokescreen requested by someone to deflect the fact that he’ll be leaving soon! Hahaha.
BBC Sport website was reporting, just before its coverage of the David Moyes press conference this lunchtime, that Lingard has recently spoken to Spurs but has decided to stay at OT in January. How true that is we shall see. Personally, I’m not that bothered, particularly given Vlasic looking decent in the last month or so, the way Lingard tailed off at the end of last season and his reluctance to commit to us.
Watching Lingard make a late and unnecessary appearance as a substitute for Man U, my immediate thought was that it was a Malicious substitution by Rangnick, preventing Lingard from taking any further part in the competition when he leaves the club. It may also be viewed as punishment for the loss that Man U will incur without the fee that they were hoping to get. It should also be clear to Lingard that he has no future under Rangnick or anyone else who follows him.
The Lingard situation is indicative of a club that has lost its way by managing with the FIFA app and gambling, instead of putting its faith in experience, structure, planning and succession. Right now they look light years away from the club that they were under Sir Alex.