Man United are in desperate need of signing a reliable goalscorer in this summer's transfer window and few are better qualified than Jonathan David.
Jonathan David celebrates after scoring for Lille.
Jonathan David is being linked with a move to Old Trafford.(Image: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images.)
Strikers of Jonathan David's calibre do not crop up for free all that often.
However, after announcing last month that he will be leaving Lille when his contract expires at the end of June, the Canadian will soon become a free agent, meaning one club will secure the signature of one of Europe's most prolific goalscorers for nothing.
David joined Lille from Belgian club Gent in 2020 and over his five seasons established himself as one of the most reliable goalscorers in the business, scoring 109 goals in 232 games.
Scoring 51 times since the beginning of the 2023/24 campaign, David's stock is the highest it has ever been, meaning it is hardly surprising he has been linked with a plethora of big-name clubs from across Europe in recent months, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
With a little over three weeks remaining on his contract at Lille, it has been claimed by Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport that David would 'prefer' a move to one of United, Barcelona or PSG.
United, of course, are desperate to sign a striker this summer and signing David on a free transfer would make sense after spending £62.5million on Matheus Cunha. Bryan Mbeumo may also arrive from Brentford for a similar fee.
However, United are unable to offer the attraction of Champions League football for next season. On the flip side, Barcelona and PSG can offer prospective summer signings that luxury.
But as the addition of Cunha and the potential arrival of Mbeumo have proven, the absence of Champions League football is not the be all and end all for United, who have clearly not lost their pulling power. Mbeumo has attracted interest from Newcastle, who will be back in the Champions League next season, but he wants to join United.
David impressed in the Champions League for Lille this season, scoring seven goals and claiming two assists in 10 appearances. With such an impressive record to shout about, he would be forgiven for wanting to join a club that will participate in Europe's premier club competition in 2025/26.
Jonathan David celebrates after scoring for Lille.
Jonathan David excelled throughout his time at Lille.
However, he has, on more than one occasion, outlined his desire to experience playing in the Premier League, meaning that could give United a fighting chance of landing one of Europe's most sought-after strikers.
Speaking back in 2022, David said: "In England, when I watch the matches, everything is full each time. As a player, it motivates you even more.
"I don't know, I think it's possible, very possible [I could play in England one day]. I don't know if I can find myself anywhere other than the Premier League. It could well be the Premier League. It's a very nice atmosphere."
In an earlier interview with The Guardian in April 2020, the 25-year-old admitted: "The Premier League is the best in the world and most competitive so obviously that is somewhere I would love to play in the future."
Taking David's admission into account, United may never get a better opportunity to lure him to England. His hunger to play in the Premier League could convince him to give up European football for one season in the hope of spearheading United's attack and firing them back into the European conversation for 2026/27.
Of course, Barcelona and PSG are more attractive options than United are right now, not least because they won their respective league titles this season and PSG won the Champions League, but David's desire to play in England could sway his thinking.
From United's point of view, they will not find a more prolific goalscorer for free. His record of 25 goals or more in each of the last three seasons proves that.