Manchester United will trigger a 12-month extension in Jesse Lingard's contract to retain his value if he does not leave this summer, claims The Sun.
Lingard has entered the final year of his current United contract and has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham to reunite with former manager Jose Mourinho.
The 27-year-old stock has taken a massive hit since some superb showings at the 2018 World Cup after struggling with life on and off the field.
Lingard was left out of the squad completely for United's opening weekend 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace despite being one of the few to complete the club's mini pre-season.
📈 Jesse Lingard's best rating in a Premier League season - 6.82 (2017/18)
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 20, 2020
⚽️ Most goals in a Premier League season - 8 (17/18)
🅰️ Most assists in a Premier League season - 5 (17/18)
🫂 Manager at the time? Mourinho
🗞️ Spurs are interested in signing Lingard (@RobDawsonESPN) pic.twitter.com/sSHPsO9QD4
Mourinho is keen to bring Lingard to Tottenham as a replacement for Dele Alli but is running out of time to get a deal over the line.
Lingard is desperate to turn his career around at Old Trafford but wants game time and is currently firmly out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United are aware the chances of Lingard leaving this summer are slim but are unlikely to reward the midfielder with a long-term deal and hope to preserve his value by extending his stay until 2022.
The ex-England international produced the best football of his United career under Mourinho, managing the best WhoScored rating in a Premier League season (6.82) and the most goals (8) and assists (5) in a single league campaign.