Juventus are reportedly one step away from completing a deal to sign Jonathan David, who is also believed to be of interest to Manchester United.
Following the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and with a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo on the verge of being finalised, United’s attention is set to shift towards securing the services of a top-class striker.
Rasmus Hojlund endured another difficult campaign, scoring only four goals in the Premier League. It has become painfully obvious that the young Dane currently doesn’t have what it takes to lead the line for a club of the sheer size and pressure of United.
His days at Old Trafford appear to be numbered, with Inter Milan keen on luring him back to Italy. Napoli have also been mentioned as an interested party in the 21-year-old.
David’s name keeps surfacing as a target in United’s transfer plans. In truth, he has been linked to the Red Devils several times throughout his career, but a move has never come to fruition. However, with the striker now available as a free agent, it appeared like a deal was finally within reach.
The Canada international’s ascent at Lille has been nothing short of remarkable. Since making the switch from Gent in 2020, the 24-year-old has established himself as one of Europe’s most consistent goal scorers, racking up 109 goals in 231 appearances. That tally includes an impressive 25 goals in 49 games during the 2024/25 season.
He has not been short of admirers but at the moment, Juventus appear to be making the strongest advances to win the race for his signature.
A report covered by The Peoples Person earlier this month indicated that the Old Lady had made an offer to David.
Juventus have stepped up their efforts in recent days, and La Gazzetta dello Sport now report that a deal on personal terms has been struck.
According to the newspaper, Juventus’ deal for David is “heating up, with positive and ongoing contacts.” The club’s general director, Damien Comollo, is optimistic that the United target is “determined” to move to Turin even though he could earn more money elsewhere.
The Italian news outlet adds, “If everything proceeds smoothly, the official announcement could come right after the Manchester City match and just before the Round of 16 (June 30–July 1). With agreement already reached on salary (€6 million plus bonuses) and signing bonus, they are now working around the clock to iron out agent commissions.”
“Several million euros remain in play, but David has asked his camp to help reach a full agreement.”
Meanwhile, Corriere dello Sport note that there are “significant hurdles” that have to be overcome first before a full agreement is found. These issues include David’s signing bonus and the commission to be paid to his agent. The sum of these two stands at €15m.
CDS explain, “Negotiations are underway to reduce these demands and bring the deal over the line quickly. Comolli is eager to act fast to fend off potential threats from Premier League clubs and Saudi Arabia, and is also exploring other options.”
If, for whatever reason, Juventus and David are unable to arrive at an understanding, the Italian giants will move on to alternative targets, with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson being one of them.
This could potentially allow United to swoop in and reignite their pursuit of David.
Featured image Vaughn Ridley via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
