Manchester United presented with the opportunity to sign exceptional forward on a free transfer, shortly after Liverpool reportedly made an offer.

Manchester United have surprisingly emerged as the leading contenders to sign Lille forward Jonathan David on a free transfer this summer, with the Canadian international’s contract set to expire at the end of the season.

Under Ruben Amorim, United have shown signs of improvement in 2025, bouncing back from early struggles. Currently 14th in the Premier League, they recently earned an impressive 2-2 draw at Anfield and triumphed over Arsenal in the FA Cup via a penalty shootout. Despite Amorim’s system requiring specific player profiles, United are expected to have a quiet January due to financial constraints under PSR regulations.

Speaking on The Athletic podcast, transfer expert David Ornstein highlighted United’s limited spending capacity, stating: “It’s not like the walls are collapsing financially—it’s not great, but there is some scope to do something [in January].” While major signings seem unlikely, the club may not need to splash the cash, as they are reportedly exploring a free transfer for David.

The 25-year-old has 11 goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances this season, along with four goals in five Champions League matches. Juventus are also reportedly interested, but United’s position offers them a “golden opportunity” to secure David ahead of the Serie A giants.

Landing David on a free transfer would be a significant coup for United, especially given Liverpool’s previous interest in the striker. Reports from October suggested Liverpool were willing to bid €25 million for David, with manager Arne Slot being a big admirer of the

player.