The response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial Manchester United departure has been immediate and strikers from all over Europe are now being linked to the club.
PSV and Netherlands star Cody Gakpo is one of the players to be heavily linked after he was reportedly on the verge of joining the club over the summer.
Jonathan David, the Lille striker, has also been linked, with reports earlier this week claiming he was one of the players under consideration at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old is currently leading his Canada side in the World Cup and could be an option for the Old Trafford club but now, journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has refuted any such claims.
“Jonathan David is a player I really rate, and I’ve said he could be a good option for Manchester United. He’s now being linked with the club, but how reliable is the story?” Romano wrote in his CaughtOffside briefing.
“It’s normal for top players to be linked with Man Utd, but at the moment there are no negotiations ongoing for David. He’s well known by United scouts of course but there are no talks ongoing at the moment.
“I’m sure he will continue to attract interest from many top clubs.”
SN’s verdict…
Over the last five to seven years, United have often gone down the short-term solution route in terms of signing a striker. Romelu Lukaku is the only exception.
In that period, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Odion Ighalo and Radamel Falcao are among the players to join the club.
The next signing in that department has to be a long-term option and Erik ten Hag will be thinking the same. Only time will tell whether David is a real option.
United need two forwards, one to replace Ronaldo and one to cover Martial, whether that is Jan or the summer remains to be seen but we definitely need at least one in Jan. And I am not talking about Kane or the like, Gapko, Ivan Toney, or Jonathan David could fit the bill.
GAKPO is the most suitable for the striking position. And United also needs a replacement for Bisaka