Jose Mourinho comments might persuade Newcastle to sign Jesse Lingard from Man United

Jose Mourinho has told Newcastle United what Jesse Lingard can bring to their relegation battle as the Magpies eye the out-of-favour Manchester United attacker.

Eddie Howe's side registered interest in taking the 29-year-old on loan until the end of the season last week.

Manchester Evening News understands that United want all of Lingard's £100,000-per-week wages paid in full, amid reports of a Newcastle £10million loan fee offer.

Mourinho spoke to the Daily Mail in 2019 about Lingard and said: "He is a naughty but funny guy.

"He is the funny one that doesn’t disturb the class. He is the funny one that the teacher isn’t upset with.

"He is the one that makes things work and in the right moment he is positive.

"He makes everyone in the class laugh and creates a good atmosphere that we always want. I was also a school teacher and I know what it means.

"We like funny people that make everyone happier. We don’t like the naughty ones who disturb everyone as they learn."

Last January, Lingard secured a move to West Ham and enjoyed successful second half of the season, which earned him a call-up to the preliminary England squad for the European Championships, although he missed out on a spot in the final 26.

Hammers coach Stuart Pearce confirmed that they are interested in bringing him back to east London for the remainder of the season.