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September 9, 2024
Jonathan David has expressed his openness to a potential move to Manchester United (Man Utd), while Erik ten Hag aims to showcase his own ‘different class’ player, likened to N’Golo Kanté. With United looking to bolster their squad, David’s willingness could align with Ten Hag’s plans to maximize his team’s potential.
Striker Jonathan David, a summer transfer target for Manchester United, confirmed ongoing contract negotiations with Lille but remains open to a possible move to Old Trafford.
Jonathan David was considered a potential target for Manchester United during their off-season search for a striker. However, the club opted for a £36.5 million move for Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee, leaving David to remain at Lille.
Lille gave Jonathan David the green light to explore transfer options over the summer and even engaged in discussions with several clubs. “There were a couple of offers, and we just didn’t finish the deal, that’s it,” said the 24-year-old, who finished as Ligue 1’s second-highest scorer last season with 19 goals.
“I spoke to a couple of teams. I spoke with coaches. But ultimately (David and his inner circle) made the decision to stay.”
David has scored three goals in seven matches for Lille this season and contributed a goal and an assist in Canada’s recent 2-1 friendly win over the United States. With such performances, interest in him could reignite during the January transfer window.
With President Olivier Létang already open to selling David, as seen over the summer, Lille’s ongoing contract negotiations would help maintain the striker’s market value for another year if a deal is reached.
“Right now, we’re speaking with (Letang) about a possible extension,” David also told The Athletic. “We’ll see how that goes.”
David offered more perspective on his future: “I’m open to anything. 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.”
Manchester United’s prospects of pursuing a new striker next year appear limited, as £73 million signing Rasmus Højlund joined in 2023, and Joshua Zirkzee was brought in this summer.
Premier League rivals Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea were all rumored to be interested in the forward during the last transfer window.
Erik ten Hag will get the chance to showcase his own N’Golo Kanté when Manchester United faces League One Barnsley in the League Cup tonight.
The Red Devils secured a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over Southampton on the weekend, with Matthijs de Ligt scoring his first goal for the club and Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho also finding the net.
It was a crucial win for Ten Hag, whose role as United boss had been scrutinized after two defeats in three Premier League games before the international break.
Although Ten Hag ended the club’s two-game losing streak, he still faced questions about his team’s performance. Following the match against Southampton, United’s midfield was continuously criticized.
After a poor performance against Liverpool, Casemiro was dropped from the starting lineup. New £50 million signing Manuel Ugarte was also benched, with Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo starting as the central midfield duo.
With United facing a team two leagues below them this evening, Ten Hag has another chance to give young Toby Collyer a run-out. Collyer impressed as a halftime substitute in the recent defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Given his potential, the 20-year-old Collyer has been compared to former Chelsea and Leicester City star N’Golo Kanté.
Reflecting on his time at the Brighton academy, former youth coach Mark Beard told the Manchester Evening News: “Everyone would say he was the best player in the age group every year, but he was just one of them that you hardly noticed.
“He just got on with his job, there was no trouble, and he worked hard. He could do two jobs in one, and his ball retention was different class.
“You don’t get midfielders like him anymore; he was sort of like a Kante for Leicester.”
Beard also shared how Collyer could complement fellow academy star Mainoo: “You need balance in a team. If you had three Kobbie Mainoos, you can’t play them all.”
“You need a combination, and Toby will do stuff Mainoo won’t. He will break the play up and get the ball to Mainoo.”
United’s 2024/25 League Cup campaign starts at 8 p.m., and Ten Hag aims to surpass last season’s fourth-round exit as defending champions.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for 24kbet, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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