England midfielder Jesse Lingard has set interested clubs a deadline of next Friday to agree a transfer, as the Everton and West Ham target considers a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
That’s according to The Athletic, who report Lingard will make a decision on his future next week. The 29-year-old is currently considering three proposed offers to join as a free agent after leaving Manchester United after a 21 year stay when his contract expired on June 30.
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His preference would be to continue in the Premier League, if the right opportunity arises, following 165 career appearances. Lingard made his top-flight bow in 2014, has scored 29 goals and created 17, but he could not establish an integral first-team role at Old Trafford.
Everton and West Ham have seven days to sign Lingard after formalising interest
Everton and West Ham have formalised their interest in a free transfer by tabling deals to Lingard this summer. A move to the Hammers would serve as a return for the playmaker, following a successful half-season loan in 2021 in which he scored nine goals in 16 games.
Both clubs now have seven days to sign Lingard, at the latest, as he wants to be at his new team by next Friday. It is unlikely that his new side is a Major League Soccer franchise as a move to America does not appeal to the 32-cap England ace Michael Carrick calls ‘unique’.
Yet Lingard could move to the Middle East as he is considering a £10m-a-year (£192k-a/w) contract from an unnamed Saudi Arabian side. The offer may blow the Toffees and Irons’ proposals out of the water, and put his desires to stay in the Premier League to a real test.
Moyes threatening to pull plug on Hammers’ hopes over Lingard wage demands
David Moyes is threatening to pull the plug on West Ham’s interest in Lingard over the free agent’s salary demands, per The Guardian. It was his lucrative expectations for a wage that saw Newcastle United back out of a transfer race, as well, according to The Northern Echo.
Now, he has offers from West Ham and Everton, per 90min, who reported Wayne Rooney recently held talks with Lingard to sound out his interest in joining MLS outfit DC United. But it is not a move that he is considering, alongside a potentially huge payday in Saudi Arabia.
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