Manchester United desperately need a new striker – and one of the most prolific strikers in Europe looks set to be available on a free transfer this summer. Jonathan David scored an impressive 26 goals for Lille last season, he has 20 in this campaign and his best years are still ahead of him.. David’s combined tally from 2023/24 and this season is more than Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have managed to score between them (just 28 goals) in Manchester.. You shouldn’t compare apples with pears, but that does highlight how much Hojlund and Zirkzee have struggled and suggests David should be on the striker shortlist at Old Trafford.. David has just celebrated his 25th birthday and seems destined for a move to a ‘bigger club’, given the consistency he’s shown in front of goal and his pending status as a free agent.. It’s rare for such a striker to become available on a free transfer, but Lille have been unable to agree a new contract with David, which has caught the attention of Europe’s elite.. David has been linked with United, Inter Milan and Juventus, and he recently confirmed in an interview with French outlet Onze Mondial that he could leave Lille on a free transfer.. “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,” explained David.. “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 my 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?. David has been in superb form. (Image: Getty Images). “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.”. West Ham are also said to be interested in David. Only Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe recorded more goal involvements than David in the calendar year of 2024 and the Canada international is a cut above West Ham.. David has been playing in Ligue 1, which is probably the weakest division of Europe’s top five leagues. However, his form has continued in the Champions League and he’s found the back of the net against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool and Feyenoord this season.. Sky Sports looked back on David’s brilliant 2024. (Image: Sky Sports). So what is the catch with David? The only small downside is he doesn’t have Premier League experience and free agents often command huge wages because they are available to sign for nothing.. United will be operating with a tight budget in the summer transfer window, especially if they don’t qualify for Europe, which seems highly likely, and Ruben Amorim has been quizzed about whether the club will need to sell players to buy in a handful of recent press conferences.. The club’s financial results for the final three months of 2024 were released earlier in the week and they painted a bleak picture, which strengthens the argument of signing David on a free.. Yes, David would need to be given a lucrative contract, but the move feels like a no-brainer and it would also mean that signing another striker – in addition to David – would be possible.. How often does such a talent become available for free? United should take advantage.
