Sports Mole discusses why Manchester United should sign Lille forward Jonathan David on a free transfer next year.
Jonathan David, as it stands, will be free to enter into negotiations with foreign clubs in January, as his contract with Lille is due to expire at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Lille remain hopeful that a new deal can be agreed, but it appears highly likely that the 24-year-old will be on the move in 2025, and there is no question that he will be one of the most attractive free agents on the market.
David has been in excellent form for Lille this season, scoring eight goals and registering two assists in 13 appearances in all competitions, including the winner against Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month.
The forward has five goals in seven Ligue 1 contests this term, and his overall record for his French side is 92 goals and 20 assists in 196 appearances in all competitions.
Players of David’s ilk and age do not often become available on free transfers, and in an age where regular goalscorers are difficult to find, it would be a surprise if all of the major clubs in Europe were not in for him.
© Imago
Barcelona are known admirers of David
Barcelona are reportedly at the head of the queue for David, with the Catalan outfit determined to bring in a new forward next summer, while Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus have also been linked with him.
David will be able to ask for a large signing-on fee, as well as substantial wages, but there is an argument that he would cost upwards of £70m in the current market, which makes him a serious bargain on a free transfer.
The forward’s goal against Real Madrid was actually his fourth in 10 Champions League matches, and he would have had a couple more in that clash, had Los Blancos goalkeeper Andriy Lunin not been in strong form.
Against Real Madrid, he had four shots in total and boasted a pass success rate of 82%, which is impressive for a centre-forward operating in a contest of that magnitude for the underdogs.
© Imago
Man United must not pass up David opportunity
Man United signed Joshua Zirkzee over the summer, but the Netherlands international has only managed one goal in 10 appearances for the Red Devils.
Rasmus Hojlund, meanwhile, has one goal in five appearances, and the club’s goalscoring problems have been obvious this term, only managing five in the Premier League.
Southampton (four) are the only team to net fewer goals than Man United in England’s top flight this term, which is incredible, and the 20-time English champions desperately need to sign another forward in 2025.
David is a £70m striker available on a free transfer, and the Red Devils simply cannot pass up the chance to sign him, as his skill set is perfect for the Premier League, boasting the pace and power to worry defences and also impressive finishing abilities.
© Imago
Romano ‘expects David to leave on a free transfer’
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has said that he is ‘expecting’ David to leave Lille on a free transfer next year.
“I don’t think this is a topic for October, November, December or January. It will be for the second-half of the season,” Romano told CaughtOffside. “He will consider several things, not just financially, the project, the managers, so he’s not going to decide now.
“For sure, he’s having conversations with several clubs, not him, his agent, clubs in England and clubs in Italy, clubs in Spain. Jonathan David is one of the biggest names on the market for the summer of 2025.
“Again, before making any decisions, he will take his time, it’s not something for now or something for 2024. Jonathan David will explore his options, but for sure, I expect him to leave Lille as a free agent.”
David has previously called the Premier League “one of the best leagues in the world”, and Man United would send out a serious statement if they were able to bring the Canadian to Old Trafford.