Unemployed Jesse Lingard ‘offered free transfer to top Ligue 1 side’ – where he would link up with ex-Man Utd team-mate

4 months ago 35

UNEMPLOYED Jesse Lingard has reportedly been offered a career lifeline in France.

And he would link up with a former Manchester United team-mate at the Ligue 1 giants.

But the deal could collapse over new Brexit regulations.

Lingard, 31, has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in the summer.

The free agent spent one season at the City Ground – despite four-year contract offers elsewhere – following his release from Old Trafford in 2022 after 22 years with his boyhood club.

He trained with West Ham then underwent a one-month trial with Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq but did not get offered a contract as the Saudi club had already maxed out their overseas players quota with Jordan Henderson, Demarai Gray and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Now, though, the Mirror claim Lille are interested in snapping up midfielder Lingard who continues to keep himself sharp by training at local pitches.

Lille, champions in 2020-21, sit fifth in Ligue 1 – 12 points adrift of leaders PSG.

Paulo Fonseca’s side includes stars Nabil Bentaleb, Jonathan David and Samuel Umtiti, while former Red Devils youngster Angel Gomes is on the books at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Like Lingard, Gomes came through the youth academy at Manchester United and made ten first-team appearances.

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But because the former Young Lions star, 23, is English, he counts as one of the four permitted non-EU stars following Brexit.

And the limits imposed on countries not in the EU or without a cooperation agreement may mean Lingard’s move is scuppered.

The report adds two other French clubs are also weighing up a move for the 32-cap England man.

Meanwhile, a free transfer to North America is another option ahead of the new MLS season which starts in February.