Lingard 'offered himself to Barca as free agent's search for new club continues

Jesse Lingard is believed to have offered himself to Barcelona in a bid to relaunch his stuttering career, according to reports in Spain.

The former England international has been a free agent without a club since his contract at Nottingham Forest expired at the end of the 2022-23 season, and has been training in Dubai whilst cooling his heels.

Most recently, the former Manchester United player trained with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq for a month at the end of last year, after previously travelling to Inter Miami's base in Florida to train with the MLS side in July.

Lingard also trialled for West Ham for six weeks at the start of the season in a move which Mail Sport reported cost the east London club thousands of pounds while they covered his living and travel expenses.

But the 31-year-old remains unattached, and as per Barcelona news outlet Sport, believes he represents an opportunity for the Catalan giants.

As a free agent, signing for Barcelona would represent an econominical option for the financially-restricted club, who may yet again have to sell players during the January window in a bid to recruit for Xavi Hernandez's squad.

Lingard's £1.7million (€2m) salary would reportedly represent no stumbling blocks to the club's FFP restrictions.

Mail Sport previously reported that Lingard had been offered to a number of Ligue 1 sides, including Lille, but a potential transfer had been immediately scuppered by Brexit regulations.

Teams in France can only register four players from non-EU states or countries and the Englishman is considered an 'extracommunautaire'.

Lingard is thought to be on Everton's radar during the January window too, with the Toffees also mindful of their spending restrictions.

But possible suitors may