FC Barcelona could sign ex-Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard in the ongoing January transfer window according to Mundo Deportivo.
Under-pressure head coach Xavi Hernandez appeared resigned to the club’s bleak economic outlook on Sunday evening.
At a post-match press conference that followed a 4-1 drubbing to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final, he made it clear that the Catalans do not have the means to bring in much-needed reinforcements for the rest of the season.
“We can’t [sign anyone]. As of today, the club can’t bring anyone in. That’s the situation we have,” Xavi said.
Thanks to the Libero Football Finance group not paying an agreed $43.4 million (€40 million), and Vitor Roque already arriving from Athletico-Paranaense in a deal that could hit north of $65 million (€60 million) it seemed that Barca would not be able to improve their squad for the business end of the 2023/2024 season which sees them compete for three major pieces of silverware.
On Wednesday morning, however, Mundo Deportivo reports that a surprise candidate has had his name thrown into the ring in Jesse Lingard.
One of England’s stars of a best-since-1966 run to the semi-finals at the Russia 2018 World Cup, Lingard is currently without a club and would not demand a big pay packet in Catalonia.
Lingard looked to be close to joining a Saudi outfit last summer, but two weeks of training in the Middle East amounted to nothing in terms of reaching a financial agreement with a potential new club.
The MLS in the United States has tempted him too, but Barca could prolong his dream of staying in the European elite.
A graduate of United’s youth academy, Lingard showed up on Barca’s radar two years ago in the same window that concluded with Ferran Torres joining the Blaugrana from the Red Devils’ crosstown rival Manchester City.
To Xavi and his staff, Lingard stands out for being versatile in that he can play both as an attacking midfield ‘interior’ and on either wing where Barca currently lacks options with Raphinha out injured and Joao Felix underperforming.
On the eve of Barca taking on Italian Serie A holders Napoli in the last 16, Lingard also boasts Champions League experience and played at the Camp Nou against a Lionel Messi-led side in the knockout stage of the 2018/2019 season.
