31-year-old is now set for a bizarre transfer, two years after being denied Newcastle move

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In the January transfer window of 2022, Newcastle United were very busy – and they still missed out on some of their key targets.

It was the first transfer window after Amanda Staveley and co bought Newcastle United, and while they were able to bring in stars like Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes, some deals did not come to fruition.

The most notable was Jesse Lingard, who had been tipped to become one of PIF’s first signings at St James’ Park.

Jesse Lingard was denied Newcastle move in 2022

The attacking midfielder and the Magpies looked like a match made in heaven, and it seemed for all the world that Lingard was going to join Eddie Howe’s side. He was keen on the move, but Manchester United would not let it happen.

They priced Lingard out of the move, commanding a huge loan fee from Newcastle that was absolutely ridiculous. It was an example of Premier League clubs trying to exploit the Magpies’ newfound wealth, whilst also aiming to ensure they did not progress and challenge the status quo.

It was harsh on Lingard, whose career has never got back going since then. He joined Nottingham Forest on a free last season and struggled to have an impact, and has been without a club since the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

But now the 31-year-old could finally be about to get a new employer.

Jesse Lingard set to join club in South Korea

According to Fabrizio Romano, Lingard is going to sign a deal with South Korean club FC Seoul. He states that Lingard has completed the first part of his medical, and that he will sign a two-year deal on Wednesday – assuming there are no late hitches.

If it goes through, it will be a shocking move for Lingard and one that no one would have predicted. And it will also see him play alongside a former Newcastle United midfielder, as that is where Ki Sung-yueng is nowadays.

For Lingard, it will be a fresh start. And that is exactly what he needs.

But he must look back on his failed Newcastle transfer with such regret, given what has happened on Tyneside since then. He could have been a part of it, but was robbed of that opportunity by Manchester United.