Everton could be an ideal fit for former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard this season, according to Paul Brown of the Daily Star.
The 32-time England international left Old Trafford this summer after the expiry of his contract, and has been linked with a move to both Premier League and MLS sides.
GiveMeSport Transfer Update
What’s the latest on Lingard?
According to ESPN, Lingard has been headed for the United States to listen to proposal’s from a number of MLS sides who are interested in bringing the attacking midfielder to their club this summer.
The same report also suggests that there is Premier League interest in the 29-year-old, with both West Ham United and Everton linked to a move for the current free agent, with the midfielder reportedly demanding a wage of £150k-per-week to join either side.
Lingard was expected to join David Moyes’ West Ham on a permanent deal last summer after a broke down as he remained at Manchester United for the season.
And Brown believes that a move to Frank Lampard’s side might be the ideal fit for the man who has scored 56-club career goals.
What has Brown said about Lingard?
He told GIVEMESPORT: “In many ways, he’d be an ideal fit [at Everton] and I thought he'd be an ideal fit when he first went to West Ham for Everton.
“He's a runner, he still has pace, he’s very direct and he scores goals.
“I think he would fit into the system and he could play in more than one role for Everton.
“But he's not young anymore and Everton need to be careful that they don't end up signing a lot of players this summer, who end up on contracts that are unmovable three or four years down the line, when they're not seeing much return from those players anymore.”
Would Lingard be a good signing for Everton?
You would imagine that, due to the current state of Everton’s finances, the club would jump at the chance to bring a proven Premier League player into their ranks for no transfer fee.
During his last spell of regular Premier League football, his loan spell with West Ham, he scored nine goals and provided five assists in just 16 Premier League appearances for the Irons according to Transfermarkt, suggesting that he would be an exceptional signing on a free-transfer at Goodison Park.
With Lingard available for no transfer fee this summer, Everton would be well advised to at least make a proposition to bring the former England international to the club this season, in a bid to avoid a repeat of last season’s relegation battle.