Paul Scholes' brutal comments about Manchester United's treatment of Jesse Lingard are right

It's hard not to sympathise with Manchester United's Jesse Lingard this season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave him assurances over game time and he didn't keep them. Lingard was also told he could leave the club on loan in January before having his exit blocked.

Lingard just wants to play and he's been led down the garden path by various figures at United. Lingard gets paid handsomely for his troubles but the club's principles have been questionable. The academy graduate has played just over 500 minutes this season, his fewest in a campaign since making United's senior team, and he's set to leave United after being mishandled.

You wouldn't blame Lingard for packing his bags with a sour taste in his mouth. Lingard was outstanding on loan at West Ham last season and his sporadic involvement this time around hasn't made much sense, although not much does at United anymore.

ALSO READ: Manchester United's perfect summer transfer window after Erik ten Hag appointment.

After realising Solskjaer's assurances on game time weren't being kept earlier in the season, Lingard knew he needed to leave the club in the January window. West Ham were interested, but United weren't going to strengthen a Champions League rival.

Newcastle soon emerged as an appropriate destination for the player. The newly taken over North East club opened talks to sign Lingard on loan in mid-January and United demanded a hefty relegation survival bonus to sanction an exit. It's believed Newcastle were surprised at the size of the fee quoted by United and so talks stuttered, but crucially the deal wasn't dead.

Newcastle reignited their interest in Lingard on deadline day. It's understood a compromise between both clubs was close to being met before United pulled