Jesse Lingard ‘needs to find a new club soon’ as Everton deal in January transfer window depends on money compromise
The TEAMtalk journalist told GiveMeSport (5 January) that based on the checks he had done there was “something to the fact” that the Toffees had looked at a move for the former Manchester United and Nottingham Forest attacker.
Sky Sports’ Alan Myers has claimed that the chance of the 31-year-old joining Sean Dyche’s squad is not likely, but Jones suggests the club have been investigating the prospect already.
Jones said: “Lingard needs to find a club soon because we are at the stage where he seems like an ex-footballer and that’s not great at the age of 31.
“His career has really fallen away and that Nottingham Forest move seems to have played a part in this – so it would be great to see him back in the Premier League to see if he can roll back the years.
“Making it happen will depend on how open-minded he is because this is not going to be a moment when he can command the same sort of money that he has in the past.
“But from checks I have made, I do think there is something to the fact Everton have been exploring his situation and the benefits of getting him on board for the rest of the season.”
The Manchester United vintage Lingard of a few years ago, or even the West Ham version from early 2021, would absolutely be a benefit for Dyche currently.
Besides Abdoulaye Doucouré there looks to be a major hole in the Everton line up behind the striker, with the massive drop off in form coinciding with the Malian’s injury absence, as four wins have given way to three defeats.
Lingard at his best would slot straight into that role, but after shunning a return to the London Stadium following his loan spell under David Moyes there has been precious little evidence of that top form.
Minimal involvement at Old Trafford two seasons’ ago, followed by his surprise switch to Nottingham Forest last term not working out, has left Lingard without a club this year.
He trained with both West Ham and Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia but neither saw fit to offer him a deal, so it doesn’t bode well for him being the answer at Goodison Park.
Not getting a contract from Moyes was probably instructive as the former Toffees boss had seemingly waited for months to bring him back, only to be shunned in favour of Forest, so either Lingard is asking for too much money still or he isn’t the player he once was, and neither equals a good move for Everton.
It would be a major surprise if he was picked up, and an even greater one if he proved to be a notable asset, but in the January transfer window little can be entirely ruled out.
