Darren Fletcher has claimed Jesse Lingard’s decision to hire Mino Raiola as his agent means he is looking to leave Manchester United.
The England international has been heavily linked with an Old Trafford exit, with a number of Premier League clubs credited with an interest.
Everton and West Ham have both been touted as potential destinations, while reports suggesting Tottenham could launch a move have since been quashed.
Lingard made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday, as a much changed United side beat Luton Town 3-0 in the Carabao Cup.
He was handed a start at Kenilworth Road, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer giving fringe players in his squad some much needed minutes.
But Fletcher believes the decision to hire superagent Raiola back in Janaury, suggests he could be on the move in the final weeks of the window.
Asked about Lingard’s future, the former United midfielder told Sky Sports: “It’s unknown. The alarm bells started ringing for me when he appointed Mino Raiola as his agent. Now you don’t appoint Mino Raiola as your agent if you’re looking at staying at a club.
“That suggests to me that he’s looking for a move. He’s not a starter in Manchester United’s strongest team, he’s a squad player now. Yes, he’s come through the club and he’s been there a long time.
“Maybe, he feels like he is ready for a new challenge and maybe he feels he is at an age now where he needs to be a starter, he can’t be a squad player.
“It will be interesting to see what happens between now and the end of the window.”
Fellow pundit Darren Bent also backed Lingard to leave United, in order to salvage his stuttering England career.
“For me Jesse’s got to go and play football again,” Bent said. “Not too long ago, he was one of England’s main men, at the World Cup he was absolutely superb and he’s kind of lost his way a bit now.
“I’d love to see someone like Jesse – he’s getting on a bit now – go somewhere, play week in and week out. It’s not going to be at United, it’s going to be tough to leave.
“Go and show everyone you are still a good player and you’ve still got a big future with England.”
