Jesse Lingrad could play for former Manchester United star in surprise move

Jesse Lingard has been lined up a sensational free transfer to Feyenoord to join up with former Manchester United star Robin van Persie.

The Daily Mail are reporting that the Dutch side are one of several clubs to make contract over recruiting the former England international.

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The 33-year-old has been a free agent since leaving FC Seoul at the start of January.

He is hoping to have his new club sorted by the end of the week.

But as well as Feyenoord, clubs in England, Italy and the Netherlands have also discussed dishing out a contract offer to Lingard.

One of those teams are his ex-loan team West Ham United, while Serie A team Genoa have also registered an interest.

But a move to Feyenoord to play under Van Persie would be an intriguing one.

The two never played with each other while at Old Trafford, but the former striker is looking for a way to boost his attacking options due to an injury suffered by his son, Shaqueel.

Lingard has bags of experience under his belt, and can play in numerous positions, so despite some lean years in his career, he could still be a great option for numerous teams looking for a boost outside of the transfer window.

Talking about it on-air on talkSPORT Breakfast, Gabby Agbonlahor shared his opinion.

Speaking with Alan Brazil, he said: “It is difficult when you are 33 and had two years in South Korea.

“I just think it was a strange decision [to go to FC Seoul]. And I am sure when he retires, he will look back and say, ‘Should I have went to Nottingham Forest? When I could have went back to West Ham.’

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“That was the decision he made wrong, and it’s hard to come from South Korea to come back to the Premier League.

“So, maybe, he needs to try a team like Feyenoord, where he’s not going to be getting a big contract.

“At 33, he should just go and enjoy his football because he would have made very good money, so good luck to him, but I am sure his time in a top league in England is gone.”

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Sliding doors moment

After falling out of favour at Old Trafford, Lingard opted to make a loan move to West Ham during January 2021.

This was the Covid season, and it proved to be a remarkable transfer for the versatile attacker.

In 16 Premier League games, Lingard scored nine goals and grabbed five assists.

He proved to be exactly what David Moyes needed as the Irons stormed to a Europa League place.

But despite constant links back to West Ham, he didn’t make a permanent move there that summer.

Instead, he returned to play for Man United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Ralf Rangnick.

But appearances across the season were few and far between before he left for free in the summer.

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Again, the Hammers came calling, but he elected to join newly-promoted Nottingham Forest.

He was one of lots of players to arrive at the City Ground that summer, and as a result, game time was severely limited.

Lingard made 17 appearances in the Premier League, scoring no goals and not providing a single assist.

He was then released and headed to South Korea, so you have to think, things could have been so different had he just joined West Ham after that stunning loan spell.