Will Jesse Lingard ever find a club? West Ham definitively end interest in free agent following unsuccessful trial as ex-Man Utd man heads off to Al-Ettifaq

The 30-year-old midfielder finds himself without a club having been released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign. Lingard endured an injury-hit spell at the City Ground, preventing him from making the desired impact.

There has been talk of interest in the 32-cap England international from around the world, with Lingard spending time training at Inter Miami’s facility in the United States while also being linked with teams in Qatar and Turkey.

It appeared at one stage as though Lingard's steps would be retraced to east London – where he previously starred during a loan spell in 2021- with David Moyes allowing him to train with West Ham. The Athletic, however, reports that no deal will be done there after Lingard featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Ipswich.

Lingard has now headed to Saudi Arabia for another trial spell at Al-Ettifaq – the side managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and with former Reds captain Jordan Henderson within their ranks – and will be hoping that performances in training finally bring his wait for another permanent contract to a close.