With Manchester United in the market for a new centre-forward this summer, most of those who have been mentioned as potential arrivals at Old Trafford can be split into two distinct categories.
Young, talented yet somewhat-unproven-at-the-top-level,Rasmus Hojlund-style forwards, such as Brian Brobbey and Benjamin Sesko. Or, instead, those in their late-20s who may be approaching their last chance to secure a move to a bonafide European giant. An Ivan Toney or a Serhou Guirassy.
Jonathan David, however, is one of the few who falls somewhat in the middle. At 24, the Lille frontman still yet to hit his peak but could arrive and immediately hit the ground running. He is, perhaps, that rare beast. A striker potentially with years left at the top level, but one who is also very affordable.
David, Tuttomercatoweb say, is valued at around £30 million by Lille, largely due to the fact that his current contract expires in the summer of 2025. A move to England is viewed as ‘more likely’ than one to Italy, the report adding that Manchester United have been watching David – who is also a target for Inter, Milan and Aston Villa – closely in recent weeks.
Manchester United scout Jonathan David of Lille
The Canada international has been nothing short of prolific since the turn of the year, taking his tally to 24 goals in all competitions while hitting hat-tricks in both the league and cup.
But if it sounds too good to be true, then we must also counter this by pointing out that David has not yet made the move to a major European club for a reason.
Despite helping to fire Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2021, he remains prone to the sort of prolonged goal-droughts which may put off clubs of Manchester United’s size. The former KAA Gent talisman kicked off the current campaign, after all, with only two goals in his first 12 Ligue 1 outings.
That is a habit David will have to kick if he is chosen as the man to compete with the aforementioned Hojlund in the United frontline over the next few seasons. David was particularly wasteful during the 2022 World Cup, comfortably outperformed by many of his less heralded team-mates in Qatar.
But still, the New York-born poacher has scored 19, 26 and so-far 24 goals in his last three seasons. That record speaks for itself, even if Man United would be getting a work in progress rather than the finished article.
‘He’s a real talent’
“He plays the beautiful, raw way,” former Lille loanee Joe Cole once told BT Sport of David. “He runs on shoulders, good finisher, he’s a target man, he holds it up. All the eyes of Europe are looking at him.
“A lot of his team-mates’ performances have dropped this year (in 2021/22) and his have actually stayed and gone up (another level). Once he gets in behind, he is clinical. His touch is good, strong.
“He looks like a player who has even more levels to go up. I am not surprised lots of Premier League clubs are looking at him. He scores off both feet, he is a real talent.”
