Published: July 21, 2022 7:29 pm
Last Updated: July 21, 2022 7:29 pm
England international midfielder Jesse Lingard has found a new home this summer after promoted outfit Nottingham Forest secured the former Manchester United player on a free transfer.
Lingard, 29, agreed to a one-year contract with the City Ground outfit and return to the Premier League for the first time since 1998 after multiple clubs both in England and on the continent expressed interest in his services.
As reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Nottingham Forest is set to add Lingard to the traveling team that will clash with Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin on Saturday after completing his medical.
🚨 BREAKING: Jesse Lingard joins Nottingham Forest as free agent. 29yo England international has completed medical & signed 1-year contract. Former Man Utd midfielder will travel with #NFFC to Germany on Fri for Sat’s friendly v Union Berlin @TheAthleticUK https://t.co/w9s0kqHsoq
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 21, 2022
Forest beat out serious interest from both West Ham United and Everton for Lingard, who will also be on a staggering ÂŁ200k-per-week deal for the duration of his one-year deal.
Lingard is the eleventh signing this summer by Nottingham Forest after the ambition club has shown serious intent on re-establishing their Premier League credentials for the foreseeable future, becoming the most recognizable name added to the first-team squad.
Former Liverpool striker Awoniyi has enjoyed his time in the Bundesliga (Photo by Mathias Renner/City-Press via Getty Images)
The club has seen fit to move for Union Berlin’s Taiwo Awoniyi, Liverpool’s Neco Williams, ES Troyes’ Giulian Biancone, 1.FSV Mainz 05’s Moussa Niakhaté, and Bayern Munich’s Omar Richards, as well as Harry Toffolo, Lewis O’Brien, Brandon Aguilera, Dean Henderson, and Wayne Hennessey.
But the move does not come without a degree of risk given the financial outlay the club has committed to both in their upfront spending in the summer window – now at £70m – as well as a massive increase to their wage budget.
Though the financial security that the Premier League offers can sustain the club in 2022-23, should they fail to avoid the drop back down to the Championship, Forest could have to jettison some of the newest faces to arrive at the City Ground.
Despite that, the club should certainly be commended for their aggression in the market and the understanding that depth and an uptick in quality will do no harm to their survival chances.
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