Jesse Lingard’s reported salary at FC Seoul is making the rounds in South Korea.
Lingard is nearing a two-year deal with Seoul after leaving on Sunday evening to finalize terms and complete a medical.
The 31-year-old could become the highest-paid player in the K-League if his alleged salary is to be believed.
He said he could earn £910,000 a year Chosun Ilbo, via Korea JoongAng Daily – two of the country’s most important news media.
It’s still a huge pay package, but it’s a farce of the Manchetser United contract he signed in 2017 worth £100,000 a week.
Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard will reportedly earn £910,000 a year in South Korea if his deal is confirmed
The 31-year-old posted a photo on Instagram on Sunday with his luggage at the airport
Mail Sport’s Sami Mokbel reported that 26 teams were interested in Lingard, including Lazio, but his flight to South Korea indicates he is close to sealing a move there.
Seoul manager Kim Gi-dong confirmed last week that talks were underway.
He said: ‘I heard about it two to three weeks ago and I thought it was unrealistic.
“I asked our director of football and he said: yes, it is true, we are in contact with the player, but the deal has not been confirmed yet.
“If he comes, it would of course be great for the K-League because more foreign fans would be interested in our league.
“And if he comes in having not played for a while, we need to give him time to adapt, rather than expecting an immediate impact.”
On Sunday evening at the airport, the 31-year-old posted a photo to Instagram with his luggage featuring his fashion label JLingz as he prepared to check in for a Korean Air flight.
Eyebrows were raised last month when reports suggested Lingard had optimistically offered himself to Barcelona.
Lingard’s one-year contract with Nottingham Forest ended in the summer and he is now looking for a new club
Paul Scholes insulted Jesse Lingard on Instagram after the ex-Man United midfielder posted several photos of himself training in the gym
Scholes showed no mercy for the free agent, who has been without a club since July
If he were to join Seoul, he would join a short list of Englishmen who have played in the K-League, including the likes of Jamie Cureton and Jordan Mutch.
The club’s last four finishes have been seventh, ninth, seventh and ninth in a twelve-team South Korean competition.
He made 20 appearances during his short spell at Forest, scoring two goals.
Prior to his spell at the City Ground, Lingard enjoyed an excellent loan spell at West Ham in 2021, scoring an impressive nine goals in his 16 appearances.
Lingard won the Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup with Manchester United and made 232 appearances for the first team after coming through the academy.
He has also received 32 England caps, the last of which came in 2021.
Recently, United legend Paul Scholes jokingly took a dig at Lingard in his Instagram comments after the winger posted several photos of himself working out in the gym.
Scholes wrote: ‘Are you just going to hang out in the gym or are you actually going to play football?’ The iconic former midfielder later responded to another post of Lingard training on a pitch, saying: ‘Here we go Jess… a ball.