Jesse Lingard has reportedly cut all ties with his former agents after the Manchester United academy graduate is yet to secure a new club since being released by Nottingham Forest last summer.
Lingard has been inactive for nine months, with his last appearance being a brief two-minute cameo in Forest's 2-0 defeat to United in April. The 31-year-old only managed a total of 86 minutes of play throughout 2023 due to injuries and poor form.
Despite various clubs being linked with a move for Lingard this summer, the midfielder failed to reach an agreement with any interested parties.
Sky Sports now reports that he has terminated his association with his former agents. The decision was not financially motivated; instead, Lingard is described as 'desperate' to return to playing and actively seeking employment after facing repeated unsuccessful negotiations with clubs.
Earlier this week, Paul Scholes made an explicit comment on one of Lingard's social media posts, mocking his current lack of a club.
Scholes called out the United academy graduate in the comments section of the post. Before deletion, the comment read: "Are you just gonna f*** about in the gym or are you gonna play football?"
Lingard made 232 appearances for United, netting 35 goals - including the decisive extra-time winner in the 2016 FA Cup final.
He departed at the conclusion of his contract in 2022, facing minimal playing time under former interim manager Ralf Rangnick. West Ham has no intention of pursuing a comeback for the midfielder, who had a brief loan stint with the Hammers from January to May 2021. However, talkSPORT suggests that Everton could consider extending a lifeline to him.