Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq has expressed an interest in signing free agent Jesse Lingard. According to a source close to the matter, the Saudi team, managed by Steven Gerrard, is willing to decrease the number of foreign players in its squad in order to sign the player.
According to Saudi Pro League rules, teams are only allowed to field eight foreign players to be included in a matchday squad. Currently, with 10 foreign players, Al Ettifaq is reportedly willing to reduce this number in order to bring in Lingard. The English player is now training with the Saudi side, however, no permanent deal has been closed.
Having already signed Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Demarai Gray since taking over as manager in July, Gerrard has been considering Lingard since he scored in a friendly match against Al Khaldiya earlier in the month. Lingard has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.
