Daniel Lewis

Sat 13 January 2024 7:10, UK

Journalist Derek Clark “would be amazed” if Jesse Lingard was a target for Rangers in the January transfer window.

Free agent Lingard’s name was suggested as a possible option for the Gers on The Rangers Review podcast [12 January, 26m 13s].

While the 31-year-old has had a successful enough career, he has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest last summer.

“He’s a decent enough player,” Clark said. “But I would be amazed if he was to end up at Ibrox.

“If he’s tipped himself with a move to Barcelona, I don’t think he’s the sort of player for us.”

No thanks

Judging by his social media posts, Lingard has become rather desperate in his attempts to find himself a new club.

Having failed to impress at Forest last season, he spent time training with West Ham and then a club in Saudi Arabia.

Neither of those sides offered him a contract, however, which says an awful lot about where the ex-England international is right now.

This has nothing to do with Lingard’s character, but more the fact he has not done anything of note on the pitch since his spell on loan with West Ham in 2020-21.

Since then, he has had one disappointing season with Manchester United, a poor one with Forest and one effectively out of the game entirely.

If Rangers were desperate for a wide player, maybe it would make sense to give Lingard a chance should he be open to the move.

However, while Philippe Clement would no doubt welcome another attacker, it is not essential that one is signed before the summer.

This is therefore a move that the Gers should not give a second thought to.

In other Rangers news, Chris Jack has shared what he expects to happen next for a player linked with the Ibrox exit.