Revealed: Jesse Lingard turned down potential four-year deals at Newcastle & Fulham to join Nottingham Forest in 2022 with former Man Utd man now aiming to follow Lionel Messi to MLS

The former England international made his way to the City Ground in the summer of 2022 on a lucrative 12-month deal. According to The Athletic, he could have ended up at St James’ Park or Craven Cottage when taking the decision not to return to West Ham – where he had previously thrived on loan from Manchester United.

Lingard was released by Forest at the end of the 2022-23 season and has been without a club ever since – despite taking in trials at West Ham and Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq. He continues to work on his fitness in the hope of landing another deal somewhere, but may be asking questions of the big career call he made 18 months ago.

The 32-cap midfielder is still only 31 years of age and has 232 appearances for Premier League giants United to his name. Questions are, however, reportedly being asked of his motivation and fitness after taking in just 20 outings for Forest – with his last coming off the bench against the Red Devils back in April.

It is said that Lingard – who has claimed to have “motivation, hunger and love for the game” during a series of social media posts – is looking to secure a move to America. He would like to follow Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi to MLS, but the 2024 campaign in the United States is not due to get underway until February.