Former Manchester United attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard (31) has been offered to several Ligue 1 clubs, including Paulo Fonseca’s Lille OSC, according to a report this Monday from Foot Mercato. The England international is currently a free agent following the expiry of his one-year contract with Nottingham Forest last July.
Last September, Lingard joined Saudi Arabia and Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq for a one-month training stint. However, the Saudi Arabia outfit could not offer him a contract, given Al-Ettifaq already reached the maximum number of foreign players in their squad, with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and former Lyon striker Moussa Dembélé joining the Dammam-based outfit last summer.
MLS is Lingard’s likeliest destination
After turning 31 ten days ago, Lingard has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet. Foot Mercato understands that Lille OSC, who plan to lure a striker, is one of the three Ligue 1 clubs Lingard was offered to. Unfortunately, as an English national, the Manchester United youth product is considered as “extracommunautarian” since Brexit for Ligue 1 clubs. Every French top-flight team can register up to four players coming from non-EU states or countries without cooperation agreement with the EU. An overwhelming majority of Ligue 1 clubs have reached the quota.
The outlet understands that Ligue 1 and the Saudi Pro League are options being considered by Lingard. However, Foot Mercato adds that joining the United States’ MLS is the most plausible outcome for the former Red Devil.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
