Nottingham Forest have confirmed that Jesse Lingard has left the club on a free transfer after joining them last summer from Manchester United. The 30-year-old signed a one-year deal worth a reported £200,000 a week but failed to make an impact, not scoring or registering an assist in 17 Premier League appearances. Forest have now moved to trim their first-team squad by releasing Lingard, Andre Ayew, Cafu, Jack Colback, Jordan Smith and Lyle Taylor. In a statement announcing that Lingard was among those leaving the club, Forest said: ‘The club would like to thank each player for their contributions during their time at The City Ground.’
Elsewhere, Serge Aurier will remain at the club for another season after triggering an automatic one-year extension to his contract. Chris Wood’s loan move from Newcastle United will become permanent this summer. Dean Henderson will return to Manchester United following his loan spell, while Keylor Navas, who joined on loan in the January transfer window, will move back to Paris Saint-Germain. Cooper’s first-choice left-back, Renan Lodi, will also return to Atletico Madrid following his loan spell although Forest are keen on a permanent deal.