Jesse Lingard in advanced talks as he closes in on new club | Football

Talks have reached an advanced stage as Jesse Lingard closes in on a new club after leaving FC Seoul.

The 33-year-old spent two seasons with the South Korean side, making 67 appearances and scoring 19 goals.

The England international left in December and began looking for a new club, a search which appears to be nearing an end.

The Daily Mail reports that the former Manchester United midfielder held talks with a number of clubs in Britain, but it looks most likely that it will be another overseas move for the Warrington-born star.

The report states that Lingard is in ‘advanced talks with clubs in Serie A’ so while his next team is not clear, a switch to Italy is on the cards.

Another veteran international, Jamie Vardy, made an unexpected move to Serie A last year and things are going very well for him at Cremonense.

The 39-year-old has scored five league goals so far this season and won the Serie A Player of the Month in November, the first Englishman to win the award.

Other English players currently in Serie A include Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori at AC Milan and Lloyd Kelly at Juventus.

Lingard confirmed his departure from FC Seoul in December, posting a statement on Instagram thanking the club for an ‘unbelievable’ experience.

‘After positive discussions with FC Seoul, we have mutually agreed that I will be leaving the club at the end of the 2025 season, with my final game on December 10th,’ Lingard wrote.

‘This wasn’t an easy decision. My time in South Korea has been unbelievable — the football, the atmosphere, and the passion around this club have been top-class. The love, support and the appreciation you have shown towards me for these last 2 years has been truly amazing.

‘Playing football here has been an unforgettable experience and one I will always value.

‘I want to thank FC Seoul, my teammates, the staff, and everyone associated at the club for trusting me and welcoming me from day one. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to play for such a massive club.’

Lingard will bring vast experience to whichever club he joins next, making 232 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 35 goals.

He won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League with the Red Devils, with his best individual season coming in 2017/18 when he scored 13 goals in 48 outings across all competitions.

The 32-cap England international had loan spells at Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby County early in his career and a memorable stint at West Ham in 2020/21 when he scored nine goals in 16 Premier League games.

He left Manchester United for Nottingham Forest in 2022 but had a forgettable season at the City Ground before moving to Korea in early 2024.

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