Jesse Lingard is RELEASED by Nottingham Forest after ex-Man United star flopped this season

Jesse Lingard has been released by Nottingham Forest after just one season at the City Ground.

The former Manchester United star joined the club in the summer on a one-year deal, commanding £200,000 as they tried to contend with their first season in the Premier League in the 21st Century.

However, he played just 17 games for the club, and scored no league goals. Therefore, Nottingham Forest have opted not to extend his services further. 

Lingard struggled to get himself into Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest team, and ultimately made just one assist during his year with the club, while his only goals came in the Carabao Cup campaign which saw the Midlands club reach the semi-finals. 

The 30-year-old rose through Man United’s youth ranks, but struggled to break into their team on a regular basis. 

Jesse Lingard has been released by Nottingham Forest after one season at the City Ground

Lingard struggled to get into Steve Cooper’s Forest side after being badly affected by injuries

Lingard failed to score a league goal for Nottingham Forest since joining in the summer

A successful loan spell at West Ham in 2021 was followed by a poor year at Old Trafford, and he was released by the Red Devils at the end of his contract.

Lingard scored nine goals in 16 games for the Hammers, and the east London side were keen to sign him permanently, but they were ultimately beaten to the Englishman’s signature.

Nottingham Forest stepped in to sign Lingard as a free agent, but struggled to get much on the pitch in return for their investment.

His departure from the City Ground is set to spark rumours about Lingard’s next destination, with a spell away from the Premier League predicted for the 30-year-old.

The club confirmed the end of contracts tying six senior players to the club, with Andre Ayew, Cafu, Jack Colback, Jordan Smith and Lyle Taylor also exiting.

The official statement reads: ‘The club would like to thank each player for their contributions during their time at The City Ground.’ 

However, Serge Aurier has extended his stay at Nottingham Forest, as confirmed by the club’s website, by triggering an option that was placed in the right-back’s contract. 

Keylor Navas, Dean Henderson and Renan Lodi have returned to their parent clubs after loan spells at the City Ground, while Nottingham Forest will make Chris Wood’s loan from Newcastle a permanent move when the transfer window opens.  

Back in February, Lingard was forced to withdraw from the Nottingham Forest team to face his former side in the Carabao Cup semi-final, which Man United won.   

However, he did prove himself to be a valuable asset off the pitch, as Nottingham Forest kept themselves afloat in the Premier League with a game to spare. 

In a podcast interview earlier in the year, Lingard revealed that he ‘was drinking to try to take the pain away’ following his struggles at Manchester United.

During the 2019-20 season, his enthusiasm for football drained away, as fans turned abusive, the pressure on him built, and his mother was hospitalised with depression.

More to follow…