Dimitar Berbatov has told Jesse Lingard he needs to leave Manchester United for the good of his own career.
Lingard made a rare start for United in their 1-0 victory over Watford in the FA Cup, a quiet outing for the 28-year-old who has been touted for an exit this month.
MEN Sport understands Sheffield United are keen on signing Lingard, while Newcastle have also been linked.
Berbatov told Stadium Astro that Lingard's United career is over as he believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lost faith in the England international.
"Honestly, his time is up," said the former United striker.
"He’s not playing. He had his chances to shine, to prove how good he is, how good he can be.
"It shows that, for the moment, Ole does not trust him enough to play him.
"And honestly he doesn’t have anywhere to play in the team right now.
"So when you’ve been so long in one team and, coming to 28, you have to look back and say: 'Did I achieve enough? Am I happy with what I’ve done here? Is my time up?'
"So I think he needs to move, he needs to go somewhere else to play.
"It’s going to be a lesser team than United, but as long as he gets more playing time to get back to doing what he can do, because I remember him starting for England and scoring goals for England.
"But now that is all gone in my opinion and he needs to rediscover some of the form that he used to have before."
Lingard could be one of a few United players to leave this month. Solskjaer admitted Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo were free to find new clubs with their contracts due to expire in June this year, while Phil Jones is also surplus to requirements. Brandon Williams could head out on loan.
