AC Milan and Juventus are said to be leading the race to sign Jesse Lingard on a free transfer from Manchester United this summer.
Lingard joined Manchester United at the age of seven, rising through the ranks and going on to make 232 appearances for the first team, netting 35 goals and providing 21 assists in that time.
He made his breakthrough under Louis van Gaal and was a regular under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, though the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in 2020 has since massively reduced his game time for the Red Devils.
The 29-year-old impressed as he spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham, but has once again found opportunities hard to come by following his return to Old Trafford.
The boyhood United fan has just weeks remaining on his current deal and is expected to leave on a free transfer, and according to ESPN, Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus are leading the chase for his signature.
Lingard is looking to secure regular first team football in a bid to force his way back into the England reckoning ahead of the November World Cup, and isn’t short of potential suitors.
Aside from the interest in Italy, West Ham are also thought to be keen on signing him permanently following his impressive loan spell at the London Stadium, while Newcastle were interested in signing him in the January transfer window.
Lingard could feature in front of the Old Trafford faithful for the final time this evening when Manchester United host Brentford.
The Warrington born midfielder is expected to be one of a whole host of departures this summer, with Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani all set to leave on free transfers.
