In a number of reports this morning it seems as though Manchester United are preparing to offload under-performing midfielder Jesse Lingard in part of a swap deal for Leicester City starlet James Maddison. It is expected that United will offer an additional £45 million alongside Lingard in their efforts to bring Maddison to the club.
Maddison has been instrumental to the success of this season’s Leicester City side as they currently sit up in second place in the Premier League and naturally he has begun to attract attention from a number of top teams. On the flip side, Jesse Lingard’s struggles in the Premier League over the past 12 months haven’t gone unnoticed as fans began to highlight on Twitter recently.
It is also rumoured that the Red Devils are willing to almost triple Maddison’s current salary, rising from £55,000 per week to £150,000 per week. It’s unlikely that Leicester could match this salary offer as it would make Maddison the highest paid player at the club, meaning they would have to replace their entire wage structure.
Manchester United want Maddison
It has been noted that the deal is unlikely to take place in January as Maddison is unwilling to move before he knows if United have qualified for the Champions League, something which he is currently prioritising as a way to continue his career development.
Given their current struggles in the Premier League this season, bringing in a creative midfield of Maddison’s ilk would very much help Manchester United as they continue to rebuild their squad following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. The young Englishman also very much fits in with the new ethos the club is attempting to put in place, bringing in future stars who already have the ability to aid the team immediately.
Maddison has chipped in with six goals and three assists for Leicester in the Premier League so far this year, already coming close to improving on his totals from last season with another 16 games left to play. Considering what Lingard has contributed for his side in the same period of time it’s clear to see why Manchester United are considering making the offer.
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