Newcastle United are reportedly no longer interested in signing Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard.
The 29-year-old was strongly linked with a loan move to the Magpies in January, but Eddie Howe's side were not prepared to pay the £16m loan fee that Man United were thought to be demanding for his services.
Lingard's contract at Old Trafford is due to expire at the end of June, and he is incredibly unlikely to pen an extension, with the England international set to be available on a free transfer.
Newcastle were believed to be the favourites for the attacker, with the English side's recent takeover making them one of the wealthiest clubs in world football.
However, according to The Telegraph, Howe's team will not be pursuing the Man United academy product this summer despite his availability on a free transfer.
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The report claims that Lingard wants wages in excess of £150,000 a week, in addition to a large signing-on fee, from his next club.
Newcastle are allegedly not prepared to make the Englishman their highest-paid player, while his demands are too high to fit into their wage structure, which will not be excessive despite their recent takeover.
West Ham United continue to be linked with the attacker, who starred on loan at London Stadium in the second half of the 2020-21 campaign.
Lingard scored nine times and registered five assists in 16 appearances for the Hammers, and David Moyes's side are believed to be considering offering him a deal this summer.
However, a number of foreign clubs, including Juventus and AC Milan, are also said to be keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding the playmaker.
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Lingard has struggled to make his mark for the 20-time English champions during the 2021-22 campaign, managing just two goals and one assist in 22 appearances in all competitions.
The Englishman has largely been overlooked by both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, though, starting just twice in the Premier League this season, with his further 14 outings coming from the bench.
Lingard has not featured for Man United since the defeat at Arsenal on April 23 and is believed to have been furious that he was not given the chance to bid farewell to the club's supporters during the Premier League clash with Brentford at Old Trafford at the start of May.
The attacker's brother posted a message on social media criticising the club for not allowing him to say goodbye to the fans, and it remains to be seen whether he is involved in the team's final Premier League match of the campaign against Crystal Palace on May 22.
Lingard has scored 35 goals and registered 21 assists in 232 appearances for the Red Devils since making his first-team debut in 2011.
Matt Law
