STEVEN GERRARD'S Al-Ettifaq are prepared to axe foreign players to bring in Jesse Lingard, according to reports.
Former Manchester United man Lingard, 30, has been a free agent since being released by Nottingham Forest in the summer.
He was training with West Ham but left them to join up with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq – who are coached by Liverpool legend Gerrard, 43.
Lingard is yet to pen a deal with the Middle East outfit due to a limit on foreign players in the Saudi league.
Clubs are allowed a maximum of eight in a match-day squad, with Al-Ettifaq currently boasting 10 on their books.
They include Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Demarai Gray and Moussa Dembele.
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
MOUR TO COME
I played 1 Prem game for Man Utd & Mourinho called me 'best of a generation'
POWER UP
Get £40 in free Bet Builder bets when you stake £10 on football with Paddy Power
Now, according to ESPN, Al-Ettifaq are attempting to move some of those on to create room for Lingard.
It is understood Sweden international Robin Quaison and Brazilian winger Vitinho are two who could potentially make way.
Gerrard is believed to be "keen" on Lingard – who scored in a friendly earlier this month.
Another possible destination for the former West Ham loanee is Osasuna who are thought to be interested in him.
Most read in Football
FINAL WHISTLE
BBC axes football show less than a month after Alex Scott & Dan Walker’s row
ON THE ATACK
England stars party with Emily Atack and rack up £35k bill after Euros heroics
LAID TO REST
Souness leads mourning stars at funeral of late Man City star Francis Lee
TEEN TROUBLE
I earned £6,500 a week at just 13 but women, cars and drugs wrecked my career
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Lingard, who has racked up 32 caps for England, contributed 35 goals and 21 assists in 232 games for boyhood club Man Utd.
But he failed to have any sort of impact at Nottingham Forest last season, scoring just twice and providing two assists in 20 appearances.
Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq sit seventh in the Saudi Pro League having won five of their opening nine games.
Source: Read Full Article
