Jesse Lingard’s contract at Nottingham Forest is set to expire in the summer, so he could leave the club this week.
Lingard signed a lucrative short-term contract with Forest after being released by Manchester United last summer, but he has struggled to make an impact. This season, the 30-year-old has only started 11 Premier League games for Steve Cooper’s side and has yet to score or assist.
Despite a difficult start, Forest is currently six points clear of the relegation zone, having collected the most points of any top-flight side in 2023.
Lingard’s impact on the team has been limited, and he is now being linked with a move to Turkey. According to TEAMtalk, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas are both interested in signing Lingard this week.
Forest is said to be open to letting their top earner leave. Although the English transfer window closed last week, Turkish clubs can still sign players until February 8.
Lingard was previously linked with a move to Newcastle United, but a deal never materialized. The England international agreed to join The Magpies on loan from Manchester United until the end of the 2021-22 season last January, but the move was ultimately blocked by Man United.
“I wanted to go on loan again in January because I wasn’t going to play again,” Lingard explained on the Diary of a CEO podcast. “In January, Newcastle was on the agenda. The transaction was completed, but the United squad was insufficient.
“A few players were loaned out, and when it came to me, John Murtough [Manchester United’s director of football] called and said, ‘no, you’re not going on loan.’ I’He’s on loan,’ he said. Allow me to go enjoy my football. Because I’m not playing here, let me go on loan.
“‘I’d like to play football.’ ‘What do you want?’ he asked. ‘Are there any days off?’ ‘No,’ I said. ‘I’d like to go play football.’ They canceled the loan because I was obviously a p*****.”
Lingard was held back at Manchester United for the second half of last season before being let go. While Newcastle remained interested in the player last summer, they were unwilling to match Forest’s reported £200,000-per-week salary.
