Neither Gyokeres nor Ekitike: Manchester United’s best striker option is available for free

Delap made sense – proven at Championship level, plenty of upside, and a £30 million release clause. So did Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen as bigger-money, marquee names – even if they always felt tough to pull off.

But now, with doors closing and prices rising elsewhere, United’s failure to move on Jonathan David is looking stranger by the day.

The 25-year-old has confirmed his exit from Lille and finished last season with an outstanding 25 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. He joins the same age profile as Gyokeres and Osimhen: experienced yet still in his prime years.

Crucially, he wants a move to the Premier League. With Delap off the table and Arsenal focused on other targets, United could have a clear run at the Canadian international.

A few months ago, when United were all-in on Delap, the lack of movement for David made some sense. But now, after two setbacks and Ekitike’s asking price, there’s little reason to wait any longer.

A free transfer could transform United’s summer

Of course, “free” transfers rarely come without costs. Signing fees and salary demands will be there, especially with a player of David’s profile.

But with so few elite clubs chasing him at the moment, the fit with United makes sense for both sides, and the financial upside is significant.

Landing David on a free means United can allocate transfer funds elsewhere. Midfield remains a priority, and there’s still speculation over a possible upgrade in goal to compete with Andre Onana.

The main challenge in bringing David to Old Trafford is maintaining the wage structure. Doing so would create room to make more summer signings than they thought at first.

The Canadian striker brings versatility and is a natural goalscorer. Beyond that, he gives United much-needed flexibility heading into a critical transfer window.

At this stage, it’s an opportunity that feels too obvious for United to let pass them by.