5 Players Who Should Follow in Lingard's Footsteps

Manchester United academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe simply has to leave Old Trafford this summer to find first team opportunities. The 23-year-old has played only 14 times this season across five competitions and needs to find regular game time to fulfil the potential he showed back at Aston Villa.

Despite having his fair share of injury troubles, Tuanzebe has shown his quality as a potentially top centre-half when given his chance. His performance in United's Champions League tie away at Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the season was particularly impressive, with Tuanzebe helping keep the likes of Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe quiet at the Parc des Princes.

On a more consistent basis, Tuanzebe impressed in an 18-month loan spell at Villa back in 2017/18, where he was promoted from the Championship under Dean Smith, but he has not been playing consistently ever since. With just a year left on his contract in the summer, Tuanzebe could be available for a cut-price this summer, and it could be his best chance to go and show what he can do.

At the same time, there will be a host of clubs waiting for him further down the Premier League table on a loan deal.

Tammy Abraham has been a consistent goalscorer ever since his first loan spell at Bristol City back in the 2016/17 Championship season where he netted 23 goals. 

However, since Thomas Tuchel has taken the reigns at Stamford Bridge, the tall forward has struggled with little to no game time under the German. Abraham even missed out on a place in the matchday squad in the 5-2 defeat against West Bromwich Albion, despite being reportedly declared fit to face the Baggies.

With speculation suggesting that Tuchel doesn’t view the 23-year-old in his long-term plans at the Bridge, now could be the best time for him to move on, with his stock relatively high after impressing under Frank Lampard last year.

Abraham managed 15 goals and four assists in 34 Premier League appearances last campaign and could reignite his career at a club like West Ham, who are in search of a new striker, or even Aston Villa, who he had a fruitful spell at back in the 2018/19 season netting 26 goals. Either way, despite Timo Werner's continued struggles, Abraham remains a distant player from Tuchel's starting XI.

Dele Alli might just be looking at the loan move of Jesse Lingard to West Ham as a 'what might have been' for the 24-year-old, who was reportedly close to joining up with old boss Mauricio Pochettino at PSG during the January transfer window. And, with Lingard now an extraordinary 1/5 to be at Euro 2020, surely Alli is considering a loan move to also get back within international contention.

The MK Dons academy graduate was once viewed as one of the country's brightest talents. He put in countless excellent performances and a highlight reel to rival most, contributing 50 goals in 165 Premier League appearances. However, the midfield sensation has stagnated, particularly under Jose Mourinho's stewardship, and is in desperate need of fresh impetus in a career that is currently on hold after making just nine appearances in the Premier League.

With Alli far from the Spurs starting XI, it's easy to forget that the England man is still just 24 and has had an incredible career already, which had put him as one of the best young talents in world football. A loan move might not do it for Alli, with Mourinho clearly not a fan of him. He might want to consider that move to PSG or elsewhere in the Premier League.

Calum Chambers is another player who has been a victim of limited game time in a career that promised so much after breaking through at the infamous Southampton academy at the age of just 18, before moving on to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal for £16m.

The 26-year-old is in desperate need of fresh surroundings on a permanent basis to reignite a stalling career that has already seen two Premier League relegations while on loan at both Fulham and Middlesborough. Despite being relegated at both clubs, Chambers showed clear signs of a player who possessed quality when he was utilised in a holding midfield, centre-back or right-back role while at Craven Cottage or the Riverside.

However, Chambers must seek a move as soon as possible with his career dwindling away, or potentially face becoming an unwanted part of the Emirates furniture, similarly to Phil Jones's role at Old Trafford. At 26, he still has the chance to get himself playing regularly at a decent Premier League side.

Divock Origi is a cult hero at Anfield, particularly for his role in Liverpool's Champions League triumph at the back end of the 2018/19 season, where he netted an incredible brace against Barcelona in the semi-final, and then the second in the final to wrap up the trophy against Tottenham Hotspur.

However, with Liverpool potentially planning a rebuild in the summer, Origi could be one of the players to make way as Liverpool look to generate some cash for their transfer targets. Despite the Belgian striker always being an impact player off the Reds bench, Origi has found minutes particularly hard to come by this season after playing only 181 minutes in the Premier League this campaign. Given the 25-year-ol'ds lack of opportunities, it could best for both parties to go their separate ways.

Despite not being a Liverpool regular, Origi will likely have plenty of suitors in the summer, as he has shown that he has the ability to play at an elite level. A move to a mid-table Premier League team could be a good transfer and one that could see him gain valuable game time.

By Harry Charlwood