19 hours Ago By Dale O'Donnell
It’s no secret that Manchester United need to sign a goalscorer in the summer.The situation in the attacking department hasn’t improved since Ruben Amorim succeeded Erik ten Hag as Manchester United head coach.United sitting 15th in the Premier League is the clearest sign we’re not winning enough matches and it doesn’t help when the team’s attacking output is lacking.
Ineos made three signings in January, but none of them were forwards. This decision was made despite Amorim outlining his desire for a new forward. A demand that must wait for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stamp of approval until the summer.
To make matters worse, Amorim’s squad has been heavily hit with an injury crisis, including long-term absentees for star players such as Amad Diallo and Lisandro Martinez.Meanwhile, in attack, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are struggling to provide the goals required for United to win matches. There was a reliance on Amad before his injury so his layoff will be a major concern for United’s first team.
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty ImagesJonathan David sets deadline for transfer decisionDue to financial restraints, Manchester United will need to act shrewdly in the summer transfer window.It remains to be seen if United will have the budget to enter the market for Europe’s top strikers.Sporting CP talisman Viktor Gyokeres is likely to be among Amorim’s top targets, but a deal would likely cost in the region of £58m.
One player on the move in the summer as a free agent, who United have been linked to in the past, is Lille’s Jonathan David. The Athletic recently linked the Reds with the Canada international as he’d cost less than fellow reported target Liam Delap from Ipswich Town.🇨🇦💫 Jonathan David's stats so far this season: 35 games, 21 goals, 7 assists.
Contract expires next summer, could be great opportunity for some clubs. 📈pic.twitter.
com/PpPxyYwhWI— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 11, 2024With his Lille contract set to expire at the end of the season, David has been speaking to French outlet Onze Mondial to clarify his future.David admits he’d like to join one of the biggest clubs in the world but explains a decision won’t be made until the end of the season to allow him to focus on Lille for now.“Yes, I will be free at the end of the season.
And as for my future, I hope to grow, to become a better player and to play for the biggest clubs in the world, if I can,” he admitted.“But first of all, I just want to have fun, never forget that football is fun. I started playing football because I had fun.
And even though it has now become a job, you have to remember that I wake up every morning for football, for the pleasure of playing.“Do you want any clues about my future? You will all know in due time, that is at the end of the season. I will not comment before then.
“First of all, I want to finish this season well, the end looks exciting and I want to play well and help the team. And when the season is over, the decision will be made and announced.”What next for Jonathan David?Lille are in action on Friday evening when they host AS Monaco and David is expected to start.
They currently sit in 5th place, and their upcoming opponents are 4th with an 8-point margin.David has contributed to Lille’s form with 29 goal contributions this season (20 goals, 9 assists) in just 35 games, which is no comparison to United’s misfiring forwards.As for the transfer window, nobody will know what the future holds for David until the end of the season.
It may make sense for United to enter the race after tracking David for years.
