Jesse Lingard’s unsuccessful trial cost West Ham thousands of pounds, while Saudi Pro League offer tax-free salaries of £330,000 to European refs – AHEAD OF THE GAME

Jesse Lingard‘s unsuccessful trial at West Ham cost the club thousands of pounds as they covered his living and travel expenses while he was training with the squad.

As well as putting Lingard up in a hotel for several weeks, West Ham are understood to have arranged transport for the former England winger, as he was given a six-month driving ban earlier this summer after pleading guilty to failing to name the driver of his car when it was caught speeding last year.

Lingard spent around six weeks training with West Ham before flying to Saudi Arabia for trials with Steve Gerrard’s club Al Ettifaq.

Mega deals for refs

The Saudi Pro League are offering tax-free salaries of £330,000 to European referees, more than three times higher than the wages paid to top officials in the Premier League. 

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak and Spain’s Antonio Mateu Lahoz are both understood to have rejected offers to move this year, but more approaches are expected before next season. 

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak is understood to have rejected offer to move to Saudi

Brighton fixture clash

The need for closer cooperation between the Premier League and Women’s Super League is illustrated by Brighton’s fixtures next weekend, with the club’s women’s and men’s teams kicking off at noon and 2pm respectively on October 8. 

While both games are at home, the 20-mile journey between Broadfield Stadium in Crawley and the Amex means it will be impossible for fans of the club to attend both fixtures. 

The FA want the Premier League to run the WSL from next season, which should improve matters. 

But, as Mail Sport revealed this month, the clubs are yet to agree to pay the competition’s £25million running costs.

Limited options for Summer Series

The Premier League may move their lucrative pre-season tournament back to Asia next year despite hosting a successful Summer Series in the United States ahead of this campaign. 

The top flight’s US rights holders NBC are understood to have expressed concerns about a clash between the Summer Series and the Olympics, which the broadcaster regard as their priority.

The clash could see the Premier League revive the Asia Trophy, which was held on a biennial basis from 2003 to 2019, when it took place in Shanghai. 

China are unlikely to be considered as hosts due to worsening diplomatic relations in recent years, leaving the Premier League with limited options, while their plans for 2025 are also up in the air due to a clash with the Club World Cup in the US.

The Premier League hosted a successful Summer Series in the United States this year