Ralf Rangnick breaks silence on Jesse Lingard’s failed transfer to Newcastle United

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has addressed Jesse Lingard’s failed deadline day move to Newcastle United.

The England midfielder wanted to join the Magpies on loan for the rest of the season but negotiations with the Red Devils proved extremely difficult.

Newcastle were willing to cover Lingard’s rumoured £100,000-a-week wages in full and pay a loan fee, however a deal stalled over a survival bonus.

Talks were revived on deadline day, and it was hoped an agreement could be reached, but Man United informed Eddie Howe’s side that Lingard would be staying put at around 6pm

Lingard was left furious by the decision, so much that Rangnick has given the player the weekend off to “clear his mind”.

Ralf Rangnick has his say on Jesse Lingard’s situation

“Three weeks ago, Jesse didn’t want to leave, then he changed his mind,” Rangnick said.

“I had a chat with him 10 days ago and I could fully understand why he wanted to leave to get game time for his future and the World Cup.

“I told him if he finds a club and the club find a solution with our club I would allow him to leave, but with all the developments, things changed, we also had no agreement with any other club so we had to take a final decision as the board and keep Jesse until the end of the season.”

Rangnick then admitted the police investigation into Mason Greenwood also had an impact on the club’s decision to keep hold of Lingard.

“The club told me, the board told me, they couldn’t find an agreement with any clubs interested in him,” Rangnick added.

”With the window closing Monday evening the board informed me they would rather he stay, so I could understand and accept.

“It was two things. We had a problem with Mason Greenwood and being without a player for the time being who hasn’t played in weeks and the club not finding an agreement with another club.”

Lingard is out-of-contract at Old Trafford this summer and won’t be short of offers with West Ham United keen to reunite with the 29-year-old.