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<\/p>\nJesse Lingard will not be joining Al-Ettifaq as his wage demands are reportedly too high for the mega-rich Saudi side.<\/p>\n
The former Manchester United star has been training with the Saudi Pro League club, who are managed by Steven Gerrard, for a few weeks in the hopes of signing for the team in January. Al-Ettifaq were keen to snap him, but reporter Ben Jacobs says they have now walked away from negotiations due to Lingard's insistence on a lucrative contract.<\/p>\n
Reports in August claimed the 30-year-old wanted \u00a37million-a-year, which equates to around \u00a3130,000-a-week. That figure is considerably lower than the reported \u00a3700k-a-week Al-Ettifaq are paying Jordan Henderson, but it appears the club are nonetheless unwilling to sign off on it.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Steven Gerrard told 'correct mistakes' as Liverpool icon's Saudi spell turns to 'disaster'<\/b><\/p>\n
READ MORE: Jesse Lingard slams Man Utd and Solskjaer over freezing him out after West Ham heroics<\/b><\/p>\n
The fiasco leaves Lingard somewhat stuck in the mud. He hasn't played a game since getting a two-minute run-out for Nottingham Forest against old club United back in April and hasn't played regular week-in-week-out football since December. He trained with West Ham for several weeks at the start of the new season – having enjoyed a productive spell there on loan two years ago – but didn't earn a contract.<\/p>\n
Fans on social media labelled him "an idiot" for pricing himself out of a move to Al-Ettifaq, with one user insisting: "Beggars can't be choosers." Another joked: "If a Saudi Arabian team is telling you your wage demands are too high, they're probably too high."<\/p>\n
Where will Lingard end up? Let us know in the comments section below.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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Others savagely urged him to retire. One said: "Just give up Lingard, if Saudi Arabia doesn't want you it's time to retire." Another added: "It's time to hang it up, brother."<\/p>\n
It's understood that both Henderson and team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum were pushing the club to tie Lingard down to a deal after being impressed by the ex-England man in training. Similarly, Gerrard was eager to bring him on board to add a little attacking impetus to his team.<\/p>\n
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