Manchester United are in dire need of attacking reinforcement this summer, but the club’s financial issues have hindered Rúben Amorim’s pursuit of fresh faces.
Manchester United are looking to rebuild their forward line this summer after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League, with a lack of goals proving costly throughout the season.
Bruno Fernandes was the club’s top scorer with 19 goals, followed by Alejandro Garnacho and Amad with 11 each. Rasmus Højlund contributed 10, but no other player managed to reach double figures in any competition.
United have already completed the £62.5 million signing of Matheus Cunha and are working to reach an agreement with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo. However, talks are still ongoing, and Tottenham are said to be monitoring the situation closely in case United fail to finalise a deal for the Cameroon international.
Meanwhile, the search for a new central striker continues. Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres was a primary target earlier in the window, but with the player now favouring a move to Arsenal, United have begun exploring alternative options.
David’s demands could sway United this summer
United’s striker hunt has hit snag after snag, with first-choice Liam Delap opting against an Old Trafford move in favour of Chelsea, before Gyökeres selected Arsenal. There have also been issues with the club’s interest in Victor Osimhen, as the Nigerian striker’s wage demands are reportedly too high.
At the moment, United’s most realistic transfer option for the striker position this summer appears to be Hugo Ekitike.
Although Eintracht Frankfurt have informed interested parties that the 22-year-old will cost £85 million this summer, reports state that the Bundesliga side could settle for a fee closer to £60 million as they do not want to stand in the Frenchman’s way if he asks to leave.
However, another option for United this summer is Lille striker Jonathan David, who is available for free once his contract with the French side expires at the end of the month. According to various reports, United are his favoured destination in England.
According to the Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, the 146 career goal striker has informed clubs that his wage demands are around £115,000 a week, which equates to £6 million a season, plus a signing bonus. However, it is not detailed what figure that bonus is.
As far as reasonable transfers go, David’s willingness to sign for United and the rather modest fees involved compared to deals such as Ekitike or Gyökeres could make it a shrewd piece of business for the club.
David could be a better signing than Osimhen
While Osimhen is undoubtedly one of the best strikers across Europe, former United defender Paul Parker has cast doubt on the Nigerian, suggesting that David may be a better signing.
“Osimhen will, of course, be an upgrade over any forward at Man United. I still don’t know how he ended up at Galatasaray from what he’d done at Napoli,” Parker explained.
“Is he really going to be the one? I don’t know. United can’t do anything until they sell and let some players go. Lindelöf and Jonny Evans, their contracts are expiring, but I’m not sure their departure opens up a lot of room, considering what they’re earning.
“Jonathan David could be available for free. His stats are better than Osimhen’s, but it’s not all about stats. Stats are great, and they can give you a picture, but you need to see what the player can do and what he adds.
“Osimhen is going to cost a lot of money, and David can be picked up for free. David will ask for a bigger contract as he’s on a free. So that’s something the club has to consider.”
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