Everton are reportedly planning to offer free agent Jesse Lingard a short-term deal.
The ex-England international, 31, has not played since leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season. Despite being linked to several clubs in the Premier League, Major League Soccer and in the Middle East, the attacker has stayed as a free agent.
According to talkSPORT, Everton could offer Jesse Lingard a contract for the rest of the campaign as they attempt to avoid relegation under Sean Dyche.
Lingard spent a month training with West Ham United earlier in the season after being released by Nottingham Forest only to vanish in pursuit of a better opportunity, with Steven Gerrard’s side Al Ettifaq, that never came to fruition—at a time when David Moyes’ Hammers were contemplating to offer the 31-year-old attacker a short-term deal.
Jesse Lingard to Everton—Right choice?
Everton were hit with a ten-point deduction earlier in the season for breaches of financial sustainability rules. So, they do not have a notable transfer budget to spend in this window and must rely on cost-effective signings and cheap loan deals to bolster the squad.
Due to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s persistent fitness concerns and summer signing Beto not quite hitting the ground running in the Premier League, the Toffees have found scoring goals tough this season. Consequently, Sean Dyche plans to invest in an attacker who can come in at Goodison Park and make an immediate impact. He is understood to be mulling over an approach for Jesse Lingard, which could see the ex-Manchester United man make a shock return to the Premier League—eight months after his release from Forest.
Lingard made over 230 appearances for Man United, while earning 32 caps for England. The English midfielder also enjoyed a hugely successful spell on loan at West Ham in 2021 before leaving Man United permanently a year later. With 182 top-flight appearances under his belt, he certainly has volumes of experience under his banner which could come in handy for relegation-threatened Everton.
However, having not played competitive football for almost nine months, Jesse Lingard will need a period of conditioning before he can feature prominently for the Toffees if a deal goes through. If Dyche and his coaching staff are ready to be patient and help Lingard get back to his top fitness levels, this short-term deal could prove beneficial for both parties involved.
Ideally, Everton would have liked to bolster their squad with quality signings in this winter window but due to FFP concerns and lack of funds available at the moment, the best they are likely to get is Lingard on a free transfer.