Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will be disappointed to see transfer target Rayan Ait-Nouri in talks with rivals Manchester City.placeholder image
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will be disappointed to see transfer target Rayan Ait-Nouri in talks with rivals Manchester City. | Getty Images
Man Utd are shopping for a new No.9 but have made a surprising decision on one top target.
Manchester United’s recruitment seemed to start off at a frantic pace and there was optimism over Ruben Amorim having the sort of squad needed to get off to a flyer next season.
The Premier League fixtures have just made that harder given that the Old Trafford outfit have the toughest start to the campaign of any team, however, with no European football to contend with, there will be little sympathy once the clocks go back and the nights get darker and colder.
Matheus Cunha could be the sort of maverick that gets United fans off their feet and will provide a shoulder of support for Bruno Fernandez in terms of creativity and making a difference at the sharp end of the pitch.
Man Utd make decision on signing Jonathan David
What is needed most though is a new No.9 but United don’t seem to be any closer to making the sort of announcement that would reenergise fans once again. Viktor Gyokeres is dragging his heels with Sporting Lisbon also holding out for as much money as possible, an early move isn’t looking likely.
His namesake Victor Osimhen is another who has been linked with finances also a factor in what his next destination will be. The one player who wants to move to Old Trafford is Hugo Ekitike, valued at £85m, a risk considering what happened the last time a project signing was made for such a key role.
One signing that made a lot of sense in terms of quality and finances was Jonathan David, but it now looks like Serie A is where he will be heading as his time in France comes to an end. United had been linked, however, Corriere dello Sport have named them as one of the teams who have cooled their interest:
“The Canadian, released by Lille , is aiming for a salary of 7 million euros (£6m and £115,000 per week), to be added to a commission of 12 for the agents plus another millionaire bonus upon signing. He is currently without a team.
“David may not have had the numbers of Gyökeres, yet he has scored 109 goals in 232 games and last season he celebrated 25 times, 10 of which in the Champions League, where he also punished Juve in the direct confrontation on 5 November. From that day, through the former Giuntoli, the Old Lady began to court him.
“The offer, slightly lower than the demands, remains on the table and, at the moment, appears to be the best given that the other contenders, from Napoli to Inter, passing through Barcelona, PSG and Manchester United, seem to have withdrawn. David will have to give an answer to Comolli by mid-July.”
Are Man Utd making a mistake?
On a Bosman, David’s wage demands don’t seem extortionate considering his profile and experience. The 25-year old is as low risk a signing as United could have made this summer.
With goals in short supply for the Red Devil’s strikers last summer, signing David quickly could have eased the pressure of signing another lead No.9 like one of the names mentioned above.
It would also have taken the pressure off players like Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirzkee who could have been given more time to develop with David leading the line.
As with many of the decisions made by the Old Trafford hierarchy recently though, it just doesn’t make sense.
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