Jesse Lingard to Celtic rumour explodes but it already has an answer due to unshakeable theory about free agent

dailyrecord.co.uk:

He is the name on the minds of Celtic fans as we reach the midway point in the January window - but could a move for Jesse Lingard ACTUALLY happen?Brendan Rodgers has stated his need to add quality to the Parkhead squad this month as he looks to claim the Scottish Premiership crown this term - and with Nicolas Kuhn inching closer to his Celtic Park unveiling attention has quickly turned to who could next be coming through the door.

Lingard's name has been rumoured with a switch to Rodgers side with the England international having failed to find a new club after leaving Nottingham Forest last summer.The 30-year-old hasn't played a game since getting a two-minute run-out for Forest against old club Manchester United back in April and hasn't played regular week-in-week-out football since December 2022.

He has had trial periods with West Ham and Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq since leaving the City Ground but has been unable to find a new club.Last season, Lingard insisted that all he was looking for was for more game time when he left Old Trafford permanently for the first time in his career for Nottingham - something that Rodgers may be able offer to the versatile attacker for the remainder of the campaign.

Speaking to The Athletic he said: “I wanted to play regular football. It is hard sitting on the bench. It was my time to move on.