Ralf Rangnick addresses Jesse Lingard speculation amid Newcastle United talk

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has admitted that he does not know whether Jesse Lingard will be leaving the club before the end of the January transfer window.

The England international, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been strongly linked with a move to Newcastle United in recent days.

Meanwhile, West Ham United are said to retain an interest in the playmaker following his impressive loan spell at London Stadium in the second half of last season.

Rangnick has called the 29-year-old "a very good player" but has admitted that he cannot currently offer him the first-team action that he requires due to the competition for places.

"Regarding Jesse, it's the same as quite a few other players, he's a really good player, it's normal at other clubs, Newcastle showed interest in him but I am not the one dealing with that. If you ask me now what will happen in the next 10 days I cannot answer that question, I'm afraid," Rangnick told reporters.

"As I said, it's the question of what does the player want, what other options does he have, does he have the chance to get game time, I cannot answer for him, it has to be done by the players.

"He's a very good player, a technical player. Here at Manchester United it's not so easy, we have other players who can play in that position and we cannot change from one game to another five or six positions.

"I know his contract is expiring in the summer, the question is what does he want to do I wouldn't be unhappy if he stayed until the rest of the season because he is a player who can always play and I know the level."

Lingard has scored twice and registered one assist in 14 appearances for Man United during the 2021-22 campaign, including two goals in nine Premier League outings.