Manchester United are not expecting Jesse Lingard to leave in the January transfer window as he approaches the last six months of his contract.
Lingard, who celebrates his 29th birthday on Wednesday, is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs next month and has been linked with a permanent return to West Ham, but the forward is currently planning on seeing out the season with United.
United would prefer to obtain a fee for Lingard next month as they are otherwise at risk of the player leaving for nothing at the end of the season.
Discussions over a new contract ended last month amid Lingard's unhappiness at a lack of opportunities and Lingard has not started in the Premier League for United since New Year's Day in 2020.
Several reputable players across Europe are out of contract in the summer and industry insiders expect spending to be limited at elite level in the winter window.
Lingard, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, and Edinson Cavani are out of contract at United in June. Mata is open to leaving next month as he has only played three times for United this term.
New United manager Ralf Rangnick said on Friday United should not try to convince a player to stay and Lingard is believed to be optimistic of getting more playing time under the German after he was continuously overlooked by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Lingard did not push for a summer transfer as Solskjaer assured him he would get chances in the first-team and Lingard subsequently felt misled by the former United manager.
Solskjaer started Daniel James ahead of Lingard at Wolves in August and two days later the Welsh winger was sold to Leeds for £25million.
Lingard made just his second United start of the season against Young Boys in the Champions League last week.
