Erik ten Hag has enjoyed a quieter Sunday morning following Saturday’s victory over Brentford, with Manchester United profiting from an impressive frontline – spearheaded by the undeniable presence of his Danish striker.
Rasmus Hojlund supplied a 74-minute display with a fantastic goal, building on his comeback from a summer injury sustained following his pre-season strike against Arsenal.
Following a tactical tweak to replace the 21-year-old with newly-acquired Joshua Zirkzee, the marauding figure of the Dane was a notable absentee, with his Dutch teammate more familiar with a deeper role.
That is not a criticism of Zirkzee; it is an obvious observation for anybody watching the game.
Within that lies the backbone for recent speculation about summer plans to bolster the attacking line with an additional striker.
Enter Jonathan David.
Primed for a big move
The 24-year-old American-born Canadian International has enjoyed an impressive start to the season with eight goals in 14 appearances across Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
We shouldn’t be surprised by the metrics, with the striker notching 35 goal contributions in 47 appearances for Lille in 2023-24.
Interestingly, David’s contract will expire in the summer, with no immediate indication of an agreement for an extension.
The Theatre of Red can confirm that Old Trafford officials hold the striker in high regard and are contemplating their options ahead of the summer – with a keen eye on bolstering their squad with uncontracted individuals.
The Canadian hitman was previously linked with a move to Manchester, with club president Oliver Letang willing to sanction a transfer per the player’s wishes.
Speaking with the Athletic in September, the Les Dogues favourite indicated conversations with several clubs.
“It just didn’t happen,” he stated after starring in a 2-1 win against USA. “There were a couple of offers, and we just didn’t finish the deal, that’s it.”
Clarifying potential links with United and a move to England, he was clear in response – indicating a desire for change.
“I’m open to anything,” David said. “I think, obviously the Premier League is regarded as one of the best leagues in the world. And for me, it’s not the Premier League or bust. I’m open to anything, and every league has its challenges.”
An agreement will not be straightforward, with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona showing interest alongside Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich.
But, the allure of running out in the Theatre of Dreams still provides an admirable selling point and can prove crucial in Ineos’ plans.
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