Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard is on the verge of making his sensational Premier League return after ‘impressing in training,’ according to reports.
Lingard signed for Nottingham Forest last summer after leaving United on a free, with the ex-England player reportedly earning £115,000 per week at the club.
However, the 30-year-old attacking midfielder failed to pick up a single assist or score in 17 Premier League appearances for Forest in the 2022-23 season.
Lingard scored twice and registered two assists in three appearances in the Carabao Cup last season, but the player was released by Forest after his contract expired.
Lingard’s imminent return to the Premier League
Lingard has been spending time with former club West Ham — where he thrived in a six-month loan spell — in a bid to keep on top of his fitness since his time at Forest.
According to The Evening Standard, the former Forest and United player has ‘impressed’ in training at the east London club.
The newspaper added that Lingard ‘will be offered a short-term contract,’ with West Ham boss David Moyes keen to reunite with the former Three Lions star.
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However, the Hammers will need to push through the contract before the end of deadline day on Friday due to Lingard being a free agent.
Lingard’s career resurgence at West Ham
Lingard underwent a career resurgence at West Ham after he left United in January 2021 for a loan spell until the end of the season.
The former Hammers player scored an impressive nine times and registered five assists in 16 appearances for West Ham.
Lingard then returned to United and expected to see more regular first-team action under former Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, the former England international struggled to secure regular minutes in the first team before Solskjaer was axed from Old Trafford.
Lingard was released by United last summer and went on to sign for Forest, despite fierce interest from West Ham at the time.