Lingard 'agrees two-year deal' to resurrect football career with unlikely move

02 February 2024 , 06:50

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Jesse Lingard is closing in on a return to football with FC Seoul (Image: Getty Images)

Former Manchester United and England winger Jesse Lingard is poised to move to South Korea in a bid to kickstart his career.

Lingard, 31, spent over a decade at Old Trafford before joining Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2022, however, he has been unattached since July after leaving the Premier League outfit as a free agent.

After spending time training at West Ham earlier in the season, Lingard was then linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League after training with Al-Ettifaq but headed into transfer deadline day as a free agent. It now seems he is on the cusp of finding a new home, though.

According to a new report from Sky Sports, Lingard has 'verbally agreed' a deal with K-League outfit FC Seoul, who are understood to have offered the player a two-year contract and a substantial financial package.

It's claimed that Lingard also had offers on the table from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Turkey before decided to link up with FC Seoul. It is anticipated he will fly out to complete the formalities of the deal in the coming days.

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It emerged earlier this month that Lingard had parted company with his agents - including members of his family - in a bid to get back into football after six months in the wilderness.

Lingard hasn't played since April, where he made a two minute cameo for Forest in the Premier League against his former club, Manchester United.

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Lingard hasn't played since April after leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer (Getty Images)

Lingard, who has 32 caps for the England national team to his name, won the Europa League, FA Cup and the Carabao Cup during his spell at Old Trafford after joining United as a seven-year old. Following several loan spells, Nottingham Forest became just his second permanent home upon the expiry of his contract at United.

In total, Lingard made 20 appearances during his year-long stint at Forest, scoring two goals and registering two assists, all of which came in the Carabao Cup.

Lingard has been active on social media during his search for a new club, although he was ribbed by Manchester United legend Paul Scholes for sharing workout videos.

He shared a post last month with the caption: "My focus is different. My time is being invested in growth. I don't expect people to understand what I'm up to. Eventually, they will."

Dan Marsh