Lingard 'offered escape to Ligue 1' after failing to land Al-Ettifaq contract

Jesse Lingard has been offered to several clubs in France, but any move could reportedly be scuppered by Brexit rules.

The 31-year-old has been without a club since he left Nottingham Forest at the end of his contract last season.

Lingard has since trained with former club West Ham in the summer and also spent a month with Steven Gerrard's Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq - though both clubs decided not to sign the midfielder.

French publication Foot Mercato have claimed that agents have offered him to three Ligue 1 sides including Lille.

As an English national, Lingard is considered to be an 'extracommunautaire' for teams in France – who can only register four players from non-EU states or countries.

Brexit means that Lingard now falls into that category, which complicates matters over a move to France.

They also report that a move to the MLS remains the 'most plausible option' for Lingard.

The player who has 32 caps for England has been using the training facilities at Inter Miami during his time away with the club.

Lingard previously spent 11 years on the books at boyhood club Manchester United, which included a superb spell on loan at West Ham during the second half of the 2020-21 campaign.

Earlier this month he showcased himself in a training montage on Instagram, of him being put through his paces and undertaking various drills.

Lingard was being directed by what seemed to be a personal coach and he looked in good shape, before he finished the video by saying: 'Working baby'.

It was thought he had a good chance of earning a contract with Al-Ettifaq, especially given he scored just four minutes into their friendly against Al-Khaldiya in what was the first game he had played.

However, he ultimately left the club at the end of