The former Manchester United player left Nottingham Forest at the end of the Premier League season after helping Steve Cooper’s team avoid relegation. Lingard signed a one-year deal with the option of a second, however, that option was not exercised.
The midfielder battled for playing time in the second part of the season, but he did make 12 Premier League appearances for the Midlands club. He has been connected with a move to Indonesia, where he is now fulfilling sponsorship obligations, as well as a move to Major League Soccer in America. That was fueled by the 30-year-old’s comments earlier this year about his business interests and the value of living in the United States.
Lingard has struggled to reach new heights on the field in recent years, but he shone for West Ham during a 2021 loan spell, earning him an England recall. The Warrington native clearly has something to offer, and potential suitors in America may respect his commercial status as well.
He has a massive social media following, with 9.5 million followers on Instagram, three million on Twitter, and over a million on TikTok. This provides a massive potential audience for every new team to tap into in order to boost a club’s profile.
While Lingard’s time at Forest did not break new ground, he had a great impact around the City Ground, and his manager, Steve Cooper, spoke highly of both the player and the person.
“We always see a positive guy who is a great teammate.” “His teamwork abilities are excellent, and he is extremely popular,” remarked the Forest chief. “We’re really proud of him for speaking up (about his mental health issues); it takes a real man to say some of the things he has, and we hope he stays positive.”
“You can see his engagement in the locker room and by the side of the dugout even when he hasn’t played a game due to injury.” It’s not a performance.”
Lingard is an appealing proposition to summer suitors due to his strong effect in the locker room, his capacity to help improve a club off the field, and some unfinished business on the field.
