Everton could repeat their Romelu Lukaku trick over the upcoming January transfer window by reviving their interest in Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard.

What's the story?

The 28-year-old was first linked with a move to Goodison Park back in October after rejecting the offer of a new contract due to his lack of game time under former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

And now, according to the Daily Mail, Lingard is set to exit his boyhood on loan over the winter window before departing on a permanent basis in the summer when he becomes a free agent.

The report states that: "Jesse Lingard wants to leave Manchester United in January after abandoning contract talks with the club.

"Lingard would prefer to go out on loan again in January - having enjoyed a successful spell at West Ham in the second half of last season - and then end a 22-year association with United when his contract runs out at the end of June."

Benitez needs him

If Everton can secure Lingard's services on loan over the coming months and then snap him up on a permanent basis in the summer, the scenario would draw several parallels to Lukaku's path many years ago.

The Belgium international joined the Toffees on a 12-month deal from Chelsea back in 2013, going on to bag 16 goals and lay on a further eight assists in 35 appearances, prompting the hierarchy to splash out £28m on the striker at the end of the campaign.

With Rafa Benitez's charges currently without a win in five Premier League fixtures, the 61-year-old tactician needs to pull off a similar deal this time around.

According to the Liverpool ECHO, Everton are understood to be looking for two new additions particularly in January, with a winger and a box-to-box midfielder at the top of their wishlist.

Last season, Lingard was labelled "exceptional" by West Ham United manager David Moyes after he played a pivotal part in the Hammers sealing Europa League qualification, having delivered nine goals and five assists across 16 outings.

Therefore, Benitez would hugely benefit from Lingard's arrival at the halfway stage of the campaign, and the opportunity to then secure his services long-term in the summer makes the English playmaker an extremely enticing option.

The attacking midfielder would have to go some distance to live up to Lukaku's record at Goodison but he showed last season just how useful he can be in the offensive areas of play.

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