Everton's hopes of singing Jesse Lingard on a free transfer may have hit a stumbling block after it emerged that he is on his way to the USA for talks with potential suitors.
Lingard left Manchester United last month when his contract expired after 22 years with his boyhood club. Everton are in the hunt for his services, alongside West Ham United. But according to ESPN, the England international is set to travel to the USA to listen to 'pitches' from American clubs.
The report claims that Lingard will meet two Major League Soccer clubs, who will both put "ground breaking deals" to the 29-year-old and his representatives. The player's primary objective will be to secure the necessary game time to force his way into the reckoning for a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad ahead of the Qatar World Cup in November.
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But it is understood that he has made no clear decision over his future yet and despite flying to the States, that will give both Everton and the Hammers an opportunity to put forward offers of their own.
Lingard made over 200 appearance for the Red Devils, scoring 35 times including goals in both FA Cup and League Cup finals in 2016 and 2017 respectively. But as game time diminished he eventually went on loan to West Ham in January 2021, scoring an impressive nine goals in 16 appearances.
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