Ex-Man Utd star Jesse Lingard trains with David Beckham’s club after blunt Wayne Rooney rejection

Jesse Lingard may be a step closer to finding a new club following his release from Nottingham Forest.

Lingard has struggled to find a new deal having been informed he would not be kept on by Forest ahead of his contract expiring officially at the end of June. The England international made 17 league appearances for Forest after leaving United at the end of his contract at Old Trafford, but he struggled to make an impression.

Lingard made a surprise decision to join then newly promoted Forest after leaving United, where he was left frustrated following a superb loan spell with West Ham United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer blocked Lingard re-joining West Ham before seldom using the attacking midfielder. But Lingard hardly proved himself during the season just gone, and he has now been left without a club as we move into pre-season.

Last month, Lingard was linked with a move to DC United, the current club of United legend Wayne Rooney, but that particular move was shut down by Rooney himself. The former striker bluntly responded when asked about the possible signing: “The Jesse Lingard [rumour]? I don’t know where that has come from. From my point of view we have no interest in signing him.”

But Lingard has friends elsewhere, and days after admitting he would be interested in a move to Saudi Arabia, he has been with Inter Miami. Whether a permanent deal will be offered is another question, but it seems Lingard is using the South Florida club - who are partly owned by David Beckham - to get his pre-season fitness in.

Inter Miami are currently bottom of the Eastern Conference in MLS, but they have already agreed to sign Lionel Messi, and reports claim Sergio Ramos could follow. Lingard would likely have to accept a dsignificant cut in wages to join the MLS club, but it seems football is more important to him at this stage.

Lingard said recently: “I’m considering all options. I’ve never ruled out any team or club out, so for me it’s just picking the right team and it’s got to be right for me.

“I just want to play football at the end of the day and that’s all I want to do. Obviously the project has got to be well suited for me, the team’s got to be moving in the right direction but just regular game-time – I’m still hungry.

“Saudi Arabia are doing big things, and in the next couple of years or so, it will be one of the hotspots to go to. I’m not really surprised that the big names are moving out there.”