Manchester United look set to miss out on another forward with LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David drawing closer to a move to Italy, according to a report.
David, 25, will depart the Ligue 1 side next month as his contract at the Stade Pierre Mauroy expires with no expectation of a renewal.
Instead, the Canadian international will push for move to one of Europe’s major clubs with a host of sides expressing interest in a free transfer after David’s impressive performances for Lille in recent years.
This season, the striker has scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions. Last year, he scored 26 times with a further nine assists. The season prior it was the same number of goals and four assists while the campaign before that he scored 19 times.
In total, across the last four seasons, David has contributed a total of 121 goals (96 scored, 25 assisted). Ligue 1 is undoubtedly an ‘easier’ league for a forward to do well, but these are not simply ‘good’ returns for a striker; they are outstanding.
And when you compound this with the fact that the Canadian is available on a free transfer, at an optimal age, it is hardly surprising that some of the biggest clubs on the continent are vying for his signature this summer.
Pete Hall (i Paper) reveals United have “enquired” about signing David along with Premier League rivals Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham.
Barcelona were also believed to be leading the race for the 25-year-old but, according to Hall, it is now Napoli and Juventus who are set to “battle it out” for the “in-demand” striker.
The reporter contends a “host of top Premier League clubs could miss out on one of their top transfer targets” due to the Serie A giants’ interest despite United, along with their domestic rivals, all remaining interested in signing David.
“The i Paper understands Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham have all enquired about securing the Canadian striker’s capture on a free transfer. David will leave Lille when his contract runs out this summer.
“All six remain keen, but Serie A champions Napoli have moved to the front of the queue having made David’s representatives a concrete offer. Juventus entered the race late to start what one source said would be a “bidding war” between the two Italian giants to sign the 25-year-old’.”
The options for a new number nine at Old Trafford are quickly dwindling after first-choice target Liam Delap rebuffed United’s advances in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge. Similarly, options such as Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) appear increasingly out of reach for the Reds’ this summer.
As such, a free transfer for a proven goal-scorer should be an opportunity INEOS deem unmissable. But it looks as if United are set to do just that – miss out on another option to upgrade the club’s dismal attacking unit.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
