Former Manchester United and Nottingham Forest midfielder Jesse Lingard is reportedly training with Al-Ettifaq, in a surprising twist.
The Saudi Pro League side announced the Englishman was training with the club in a shock twist after Lingard struggled under Steve Cooper at Forest.
Lingard, who won the last of his 32 England caps in 2021, has been a free agent since leaving the City Ground.
He has spent the majority of his career at United, apart from loan spells at Derby County and West Ham, before leaving Old Trafford for Forest on a free transfer in July 2022.
Now, the Englishman is training with Al-Ettifaq and you wonder if Lingard could be brought in to add to Steven Gerrard’s squad depth at the club.
Moyes’ verdict on Lingard move
The midfielder will only be at the Saudi side for a month and then it is seemingly expected that the midfielder will leave the club.
But as Lingard is a free agent, the Saudi side could sign the midfielder outside of the transfer window if the midfielder impresses.
After a promising spell at West Ham United a few years ago, Lingard returned to United and struggled and his former manager in East London David Moyes gave his verdict on the midfielder’s decision.
“No disappointment at all (that Lingard is training with Al-Ettifaq). I’m quite comfortable and more than relaxed with it,” Moyes told The Athletic. “We like Jesse a lot but I just don’t know if we need another player in his position.”
The midfielder was training with the London club but Lingard and Moyes seemingly decided a reunion was not on the cards.
Gerrard’s side have continued their good run of form with Georginio Wijnaldum continuing to impress for the Saudi side as they picked up a 4-0 win against Jeddah in the King’s Cup.