‘He don’t wanna be there’: Rio Ferdinand suggests reported Spurs target should’ve left in January

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Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard over the past few weeks.

The Sun claimed Spurs boss Antonio Conte was keen on landing the 29-year-old in the January transfer window.

The Tottenham manager is said to have put Lingard’s name to Fabio Paratici ahead of a possible move.

However, the Red Devils didn’t allow the attacking ace to leave, and he’s seeing the season out at Old Trafford.

Lingard’s contract expires at the end of the season, so Spurs have the chance to snap him up for nothing.

In February, ESPN cited sources claiming Tottenham and Newcastle ‘will be options for Lingard’ in the summer.

Also last month, Fabrizio Romano spoke to Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE about potential future destinations for the player.

The transfer guru believes West Ham, Newcastle and Spurs will all be eyeing the soon-to-be free agent.

“I see Jesse Lingard leaving the club as a free agent in the summer,” said Romano.

“West Ham will be there, Newcastle will be there again, let’s see if they will be in the Premier League but they will push again for Jesse Lingard.

“And then we’ll keep an eye again on Tottenham because… Fabio Paratici, he loves to move on free agents and so could be an opportunity.”

“Are you going to play someone like him”?

This time last year, Lingard was on loan at West Ham and showing everyone what he’s capable of.

Now, he’s once again a fringe player at United, with just three starts under his belt all season.

Lingard came on in the second half of the Red Devils’ 4-1 derby loss to Manchester City on Sunday.

However, he cut a frustrated figure and failed to make an impact against the Etihad Stadium outfit.

United legend Rio Ferdinand, speaking on the latest episode of FIVE, isn’t enjoying seeing Lingard in this situation.

“Jesse’s situation… he don’t wanna be there,” said Ferdinand. “Simple as that.

“Loves Man United, but the situation has come out of the back of not getting a transfer, not getting the chance to go elsewhere and play games and start.

‘I believe he deserves an opportunity when he came up from West Ham. This team weren’t playing well enough to keep him out, I don’t think.

“There was no-one you go, ‘oh they’re much better than Jesse’.

“What he’s done at West Ham, I think he warranted a chance of playing because the team weren’t pulling up crazy numbers.

“Are you going to play someone like him or just let him go, man.

“But there’s other stuff behind the scenes I’m sure that’s going on we don’t know about, so it’s hard for us to kind of judge it.”