Jesse Lingard will practice with Saudi Professional League membership Al-Ettifaq for a month as the previous Manchester United ahead ponders his subsequent transfer. Al-Ettifaq, managed by Steven Gerrard, confirmed the choice on Friday, with Lingard nonetheless and not using a membership nearly two months into the season.
Lingard left Nottingham Forest as a free agent in July after his one-year contract expired on the Metropolis Floor.
The 30-year-old dissatisfied followers on the Metropolis Floor, registering simply two targets and two assists in 20 appearances for Steve Cooper’s then-newly-promoted facet.
He has bided his time in selecting his subsequent vacation spot however might be the subsequent high-profile identify to land in Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, Al Ettifaq introduced that Lingard can be coaching with Gerrard’s squad for one month, with the seemingly view of a switch.
A membership assertion learn: “The settlement has been reached for the English participant Lingard to affix Fares Al-Dahna’s coaching for a month.
“The administration of Al-Ettifaq Membership, headed by Mr. Samer Al-Meshal, authorised the Soccer Committee’s suggestion to simply accept the request of the English participant Jesse Lingard to affix the coaching of the primary soccer group at Al-Ittifaq Membership for a interval of 1 month.
“Lingard’s alternative of Fares Al-Dahna comes due to his historical past and heritage, along with the stardom of the group’s gamers and the professionalism of the executive and technical work throughout the corridors of the membership.”
There have been some recommendations that Lingard was on the verge of returning to West Ham United, the place he thrived on mortgage from United within the second half of the 2020/21 season.
Lingard scored 9 targets and supplied 5 assists in 16 video games for the Hammers, serving to David Moyes’ facet problem for a top-four spot.
He was coaching with Moyes’ first group at Rush Inexperienced as late as this month to keep up his health, however the Scot has seemingly opted in opposition to bringing him again to the London Stadium.
Gerrard hasn’t recruited the identical blockbuster roster as Al Ettifaq’s Saudi rivals, however he has taken established names to the Center East.
Jack Hendry, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Demarai Grey and Moussa Dembele joined the Saudi revolution earlier than the deadline earlier this month.
And Gerrard will hope that Lingard can show his high quality throughout what might be considered as a trial interval for the previous Purple Devils star.
Lingard left boyhood membership United on the expiry of his contract final summer time after registering 35 targets and 21 assists in 232 appearances.