Lingard appears to snub return to former club as surprise transfer on cards
Jesse Lingard has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq on trial as he looks set to snub a move to former club West Ham.
Lingard was on loan at the Hammers from Manchester United during the second half of the 2020/2021 season. He has recently been training with David Moyes' side as he remained a free agent following his release by Nottingham Forest at the end of last term.
The midfielder had failed to impress at the City Ground, scoring just two goals and notching only two assists during his sole season there. He had joined Forest from Manchester United, after several years of struggling at Old Trafford.
There have been few takers in the Premier League for him this summer, with limited interest in a player who has been badly out of form. The former England international still remains a free agent, more than a fortnight after the end of the transfer window.
But Ettifaq have now moved to bring in the 30-year-old for one month's trial. The Saudi side are managed by Steven Gerrard and signed the likes of Jordan Henderson, Demari Gray and Georginio Wijnaldum in the summer.
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"The agreement has been reached for the English player Lingard to join Fares Al-Dahna's training for a month. The management of Al-Ettifaq Club approved the Football Committee's recommendation to accept the request of the English player Jesse Lingard to join the training of the first football team at Al-Ittifaq Club for a period of one month," a club statement read.
"Lingard's choice of Fares Al-Dahna comes because of his history and heritage, in addition to the stardom of the team's players and the professionalism of the administrative and technical work within the corridors of the club."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Has Jesse Lingard made the right decision by going on trial at Ettifaq? Comment below.
Lingard will now link up with Ettifaq boss Steven Gerrard (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)Lingard's decision indicates that he is preparing to snub a move to West Ham in favour of Saudi. Boss Moyes insisted no decision had been made on whether the midfielder is offered a contract after his side beat TSC Backa Topola on Thursday.
But earlier in the month he revealed his reasoning for offering Lingard the chance to train with his squad. The Scot was confident that Lingard would be able to recapture his best form despite a disappointing few years.
“Jesse has been training with us for three weeks and he has improved greatly since he first came in – he is in really good condition, much better than when he first came in,” Moyes told talkSPORT.
“I have to say, when Jesse joined us a couple of years ago I think he scored nine goals in 15 games. He had that great run of form and was probably the difference for us getting into Europe for the first time.
"So I want to give him every opportunity to get back into condition and see how he does. So there’s no real update on it at the moment, just to say that he’s back and getting much closer to the levels of fitness where you’d hope he would be.
"Our pre-season was really bog average compared to what you’d maybe expect. But in football, you never know how it’s going to work. We got some players in a bit later but the boys that have come in have been great.”
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