Former Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard is still on the lookout for a new club after West Ham United turned down the chance to sign him.
The 30-year-old is a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season and had been training with West Ham since August 14, having had a successful loan spell with the Hammers during the 2020/21 campaign.
David Moyes recently spoke on the possibility of re-signing Lingard, telling talkSPORT: “I want to give him every opportunity to get himself back in condition and see how he does.”
However, it now looks like Lingard wants to take his talents abroad as it has emerged that he is currently training with Al-Ettifaq. The Saudi Pro League outfit confirmed that he will be training with the club for the next month in the hope of securing a contract.
The news coincides with a report from The Athletic which claims that West Ham are no longer interested in signing the player. He trained with the London club for three weeks and appeared in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Ipswich Town.
Lingard scored nine goals and provided four assists in 16 Premier League appearances for West Ham while on loan from Man United in 2020/21. But he turned down the chance to reunite with Moyes last summer when his Old Trafford contract expired, instead opting to sign a big money deal with Forest.
Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, made headline news in the summer by signing Jordan Henderson from the Reds for £12 million.
They also signed Demarai Gray from Everton, Georginio Wijnaldum from PSG, Jack Hendry from Club Brugge, and Moussa Dembele on a free transfer from Lyon.
Read – Every Premier League to Saudi Pro League transfer made this summer
See Also – Henderson responds to LGBTQ+ criticism following Saudi Arabia move
