In what is a reversal from recent reports, Manchester United transfer target Jonathan David seems intent on playing in the Premier League next season.
While Man United allegedly inquired about the Lille striker, it appeared as if they would miss out on his signing given his reported interest in a move to Italy.
Inter Milan is one club that has David firmly on their radar, as are Napoli.
Yesterday, it appeared as if Juventus took the lead in the race to sign David, with the club reportedly formulating a deal for quite some time.
Suddenly, it appears as if David might not actually be leaning towards a move to Italy, giving hope to United fans who are keen on seeing the Canadian play at Old Trafford next season.
“At Juve they are not ruling out the possibility that the deal could eventually be closed before the Club World Cup,” Corriere dello Sport remarked in a report this morning.
However, the Italian newspaper then went on to mention that David himself stated in an interview that “I still have no agreements with Napoli or Juve.”
“The Premier League was certainly his main option; although Serie A must now be considered attractive,” the report continued, shining light on David’s true desire.
Despite the strong ties being suggested between David and the aforementioned Serie A clubs, this report puts the transfer race in an entirely different light than before.
Rather than Italy being the most attractive destination for the Canadian, it now appears that the links to Juventus, Napoli, and Inter Milan are only coming to the forefront due to a lack of offers from Premier League clubs.
Given this supposed reality, it appears if it might be wise for United to step up their pursuit.
Although they may not have European football to offer next season, United could potentially convince David to join them due to being a Premier League side, which is allegedly the league that he wants to play in. What’s more, there is no clear sign as of yet of any Premier League rival with European football making an offer for the Lille star, leaving United with a unique edge over their Italian counterparts.
Sure, United might still be linked with the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen, but David could be a worthwhile transfer candidate to consider due to his affordability.
Seeing as his contract is up in the summer of 2025, United could perhaps convince Lille to part ways with David at a discount rather than losing him for free. This would not only hand United a competent striker but additional flexibility in the transfer market to complete the squad overhaul necessary to compete at the summit of English football next season.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
