Manchester United trigger 12-month extension on Jesse Lingard's contract

Manchester United have triggered the one year extension clause in Jesse Lingard's contract, locking the England international to the club until the summer of 2022.

Lingard has managed only two appearances all season for United, both of which came in the EFL Cup, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have evolved without the need for attacking midfielder.

Lingard has been keen to start a new chapter after losing his place in the United team. After talking to various clubs across Europe last summer, nothing concrete materialised, despite interest from Real Sociedad.

The 28-year-old has seen his contract extended, Sky Sports confirmed on Thursday, to ensure that he doesn't leave United for free at the end of June 2021, and it allows United to sell the academy graduate for a fee if they reach a deal in upcoming transfer windows.

Having not yet selected him for a Premier League or Champions League game this term, Solskjaer recently revealed that the United attacker had been forced to isolate on several different occasions due to close contact with people who had contracted coronavirus.

"He's been unfortunate with having to isolate a few times, been in contact, or close contact with Covid, not even having it himself," Solskjaer said. "He's been very unlucky being away from the training ground a few times. He works really hard."

At United since the age of seven, Lingard has scored some important goals over the years, but never really managed to hit the heights that his career once showed promise of producing.

In 2017/18 he recorded his best goalscoring year for United, managing 13 in all competitions. However, with the arrival of the classy Bruno Fernandes and others, there has been little opportunity for the 24 times capped England international to earn back his spot in the starting XI.