Lille striker Jonathan David is not currently a ‘leading target’ for Manchester United as the Premier League giants consider other options in pursuit of a new number nine.
That is according to Ben Jacobs; the CBS Sport reporter writing on Twitter as the Ligue 1 marskman faces another window of sustained speculation.
Jonathan David, the New York-born Canada international, was in prolific form once again in 2022/23. He scored 26 times in 40 games. More than he managed during Lille’s title-winning campaign 12 months earlier.
But while David would ‘love a move to the Premier League’ – to quote Jacobs – Manchester United appear to be looking elsewhere; Rasmus Hojlund, Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos emerging as Erik ten Hag’s preferred Harry Kane alternatives instead.
Manchester United unlikely to move for Lille’s Jonathan David
“Lille expect to sell Jonathan David this summer,” Jacobs writes on Twitter. “They are looking for around 60 million euros.”
“David would love a move to the Premier League. Chelsea and Manchester United have other leading targets for now despite looking at David in the past. Same for Arsenal.”
A £51 million fee makes David some way more affordable than Hojlund, Ramos and Kolo Muani. All of whom could set United back around £70 million-plus.
Exactly why Ten Hag and co appear to have moved on from the 23-year-old, then, is anyone’s guess.
Perhaps David, a bit of an old-school poacher, lacks the all-round skillset required to truly thrive as a number nine in Ten Hag’s system. While Ramos and Kolo Muani reached double figures for assists last term, David managed just four.
A dreadful World Cup – David massively underwhelmed as plucky Canada bowed out at the Group Stages – did not do his reputation much good either.
Jacobs beleives that, while United, Chelsea and Arsenal after looking elsewhere for the time being, another Premier League outfit cannot be ruled out of contention.
“PSG and Napoli tracking David. If Osimhen is sold, latter would be very keen. And keep an eye on West Ham,” he adds.
“After CONCACAF Nations League Final, David will start to seriously explore his options.”:
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