Manchester (AFP)
Nottingham Forest, returning to the Premier League in England, after an absence of 23 years, has secured the services of attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard, whose contract with Manchester United expired last month, after spending 11 years with the latter.
Lingard, 29, scored 35 goals in the ranks of the “Red Devils”, after defending his colors in 231 games, and he also drew attention during a brief loan period to West Ham for the 2020-2021 season.
Lingard was expected to return to West Ham, but Nottingham Forest offered him a better offer for one season at $240,000 a week, according to The Guardian.
Lingard’s goal will be to return to the England national team and participate in the World Cup in Qatar, which is scheduled from November 21 to December 18.
Lingard was in the squad of current England coach Gareth Southgate when the “Three Lions” reached the semi-finals of the World Cup that was held in Russia in 2018, but he missed the European Cup finals last summer, which his team lost to Italy on penalties at Wembley Stadium.
Lingard will play in his new team alongside his former Manchester United teammate, goalkeeper Dean Henderson, on loan to Nottingham.