Tottenham and Everton have made contact with free agent Jesse Lingard – but money-bags Newcastle are still hopeful of landing the former Manchester United star.
Antonio Conte is an admirer of the 29-year-old star who continues to weigh up his options after severing ties with Old Trafford after eleven years at the club. Goodison chief Frank Lampard is also on Lingard's trail but after the club signed Dele Alli last season the Everton manager has to balance his transfer activity carefully .
Geordies boss Eddie Howe was desperate to sign Lingard in the January transfer window but United blocked the move and the playmaker was forced to kick his heels on the sidelines for the remaining months of the season. Lingard enjoyed a successful loan spell at West Ham at the end of the 2020/21 season but although the Hammers are keen to sign him their wage offer has fallen short of the midfielder's expectations.
Newcastle have been in dialogue with Lingard's management team and talks are thought to be on going although no agreement has yet been reached. Lingard, who also has admirers at AC Milan and Roma in Serie A, is aiming to have a flying start to the new campaign to make a late run into Gareth Southgate's England squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
But with Premier League clubs already back in training and preparing for pre-season tours Lingard knows he can't wait too much longer to decide his future. The United academy graduate confirmed his exit ahead of his contract expiring on June 30 with an emotional social media post.
"Born and bred a red," Lingard wrote. "Over the last few weeks I’ve been emotional leaving a club that is family. After 22 years I’ve had so many special memories and moments that I will cherish forever. I’m a red through and through and Manchester United will always remain in my heart.
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"Thank you to the players I’ve played with over the years I’ve made friends for life and we’ve had a lot of fun along the way. I want to say a big thank you to the coaches that I have worked under from the age of 9 to present.
Each coach has helped me in many different ways and I appreciate the way each coach believed in me and taught me something different .A massive thank you to all the staff behind the scenes from dinner ladies to the cleaners to the kitmen because everyone has played a role in where I am today."
