Man Utd now interested in signing 17-goal striker as Barcelona enter race, not Gyokeres - report

Barcelona could face competition from Manchester United to sign one of Ligue 1’s best strikers next summer, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The Red Devils have been fancied to sign a new striker next year. They have been linked with plenty of high-profile names including Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Lille’s Jonathan David has been highlighted as another potential candidate and Mundo claim that Barcelona are keen on negotiating a free transfer for him.

The Blaugrana are likely to face competition from England with the Red Devils among his admirers. David is due to leave Lille when his contract expires in June 2025.

United should aim higher to challenge for big titles

David has been a consistent performer for Lille over the years. The 24-year-old has been in superb form this campaign with 17 goals and three assists from 24 outings.

Despite those statistics, there are big questions whether he can adapt to the higher intensity and physicality of the Premier League with more expectations on his head.

The Canadian star would suit Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system with his good link-up play. Aside from a striker, he can also operate from an attacking midfield role.

However, he has a genuine weakness when it comes to aerial challenges. He has won just 23 percent of his aerial challenges and this could be a huge drawback for United.

We are not convinced that he can adapt to the demands of the Premier League. He could end up like Joshua Zirkzee, who has been very inconsistent for the Red Devils.

United should aim for an elite striker such as Gyokeres from Sporting CP. The 26-year-old would be a solid upgrade and could help United challenge for bigger titles.

Gyokeres has 29 goal contributions from just 22 appearances this term. He has also excelled with his hold-up play and would be a menace for opposition defenders.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .