Jesse Lingard ‘close to completing a shock move to FC Seoul’ after the former Manchester United star ‘verbally agreed a two-year deal’ with the South Korean club

Jesse Lingard looks set to return to football after reportedly agreeing a shock deal with FC Seoul in South Korea.

The former Manchester United star is said to have agreed a two-year deal with an option for a further year with the K League side according to a report from Sky Sports.

A free agent since leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season, Lingard is not bound by Thursday’s transfer deadline and the deal is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Last month Lingard, who had been linked with a move to the Portland Timbers in the MLS – took to Instagram to share a bullish message.

Sharing an image of himself on the training field, Lingard also added a second picture with a message that read: ‘My focus is different. My time is being invested in growth. I don’t expect people to understand what I’m up to. Eventually, they will.’ 

The caption for the overall post said: ‘High vibrations and good energy only!’

He made 20 appearances during his brief spell with Forest, scoring two goals.  

Prior to his stint at the City Ground, Lingard enjoyed a superb loan spell at West Ham in 2021 and scored an impressive nine goals in his 16 appearances.

Lingard won the Europa League, FA Cup and the Carabao Cup with Manchester United and played 232 games for the first-team after progressing from the academy.

He has also been handed 32 England caps, the latest of which came in 2021.

Recently, United legend Paul Scholes jokingly hit out at Lingard in his Instagram comments after the winger posted several pictures of himself working out in the gym.

Scholes wrote: ‘Are you just gonna f*** about in the gym or are you gonna actually play football?’ The iconic former midfielder later reacted to a further post of Lingard training on a pitch, commenting: ‘There we go Jess… a ball.’