The Mirror claims that Nottingham Forest have won the race to sign Jesse Lingard, suggesting that the player is due in Nottingham for a medical.
The Reds have been in competition with West Ham for his signature and now they look set to pull off an astonishing coup.
Lingard ended a 20-year association with Manchester United in the summer; walking away after 232 appearances for the Red Devils.
He’s been heavily courted by several clubs. Newcastle, Tottenham and DC United have all been linked in the past couple of weeks.
Yesterday, TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has claimed that Nottingham Forest have offered Jesse Lingard £30,000-a-week more than West Ham.
It’s not clear at this stage what the offer from West Ham was but it appears that Forest have decided to blow them out of the water.
It’s a big season for Lingard. He has a sound relationship with England boss Gareth Southgate and naturally, he will believe he can play a part at the World Cup in th summer.
This news will stun West Ham who must have thought they were quids in to sign Lingard.
The 29-year-old spent six months on loan at the London Stadium during the 2020/21 campaign, scoring nine goals and claiming five assists from 16 appearances.
Forest have been on the lookout for attacking talent in recent weeks and Lingard will naturally bolster the squad.
Forest have won the race to sign Lingard
This is remarkable and should offer Reds supporters a reminder that the Premier League is firmly back on Trentside.
How the Reds have managed to pull this one remains to be seen and the hope will be that he can do the business.
Lingard has lost his way a bit. He made just 20 appearances last season and he might need to shake some of the ring rust off.
There is no denying his quality though and under the influence of Steve Cooper, he could force his way back into England reckoning.
A medical should be a smooth process, with Stuart Pearce praising the ‘wonderful’ player’s fitness yesterday.
Forest fans should be very excited indeed.
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