“MARCUS RASHFORD UNLEASHES UNSTOPPABLE FORM: West Ham QUAKING as £40M MEGA-DECISION THREATENS TO SHATTER THE PREMIER LEAGUE!”

Four years on, Jesse Lingard’s career has taken a dramatically different turn — now playing in South Korea for FC Seoul at 32 years old.

Once a prominent England international and Manchester United regular, Lingard now finds himself far from the European spotlight.

Much of his career’s trajectory shifted after his remarkable loan spell at West Ham United, where he reignited his form with nine goals and four assists in just 16 Premier League appearances. It looked like the perfect springboard.

But instead of building on that momentum, Lingard returned to Manchester United, only to be relegated once again to the bench under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Despite Solskjaer’s initial plans to reintegrate him into the squad, the manager was sacked soon after, and interim boss Ralf Rangnick offered Lingard few opportunities.

He made just two league starts during his final year at the club before leaving for Nottingham Forest as a free agent.

At Forest, things went from bad to worse. Lingard failed to score a single Premier League goal, and after a season of struggles, he eventually found himself out of the game entirely before FC Seoul came calling.

In Korea, he’s attempting to rebuild his connection with the game that once seemed to leave him behind.

Former England striker Darren Bent sees Lingard’s story as a cautionary tale — one he believes Marcus Rashford would do well to consider.

Bent drew parallels between Lingard’s post-West Ham decline and Rashford’s current situation at Manchester United.

“I’m not sure returning to Manchester United is the best move for Rashford,” Bent said during a segment on talkSPORT on May 16.

“It’s a different scenario, but remember Lingard? He went to West Ham and was outstanding — that goal against Wolves stands out. Then he went back to United and disappeared again.”

Bent recalled Lingard’s award-winning performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers, particularly his brilliant solo goal, which showcased the talent that once drew comparisons to some of football’s elite.

But despite his resurgence, Lingard chose not to return to West Ham permanently. That decision, Bent believes, was a critical misstep.

“After United, he went to Forest, and it didn’t work out at all,” Bent added. “It just faded for him.”

Indeed, Lingard’s time at West Ham was a high point — consistently delivering and scoring at a rate of nearly one goal every two games.

Yet his inability to secure a permanent move there ultimately led to a slow and steady decline in his career.

At Nottingham Forest, he didn’t register a single Premier League goal and saw his form collapse entirely, culminating in almost a year without a club.

It wasn’t until FC Seoul extended an opportunity that he found a new path — albeit a surprising one — outside Europe’s competitive limelight.

Rashford, currently attempting to recapture form during a short stint with Aston Villa, may face a similar crossroads.

Though his loan has shown moments of promise, Bent warns that fleeting success can quickly become irrelevant in the ruthless world of football.

There’s reportedly a £40 million buy clause in Rashford’s Aston Villa deal — a significant decision looms.

Lingard’s journey is a timely reminder that past success doesn’t always guarantee a happy return.