Report: Manchester United now want £42m ‘phenomenon’ Arsenal have already been in contact with

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Manchester United are set to battle to sign Jonathan David, who has been a transfer target for Arsenal, this summer.

CBS Sport claim that David is among the frontmen that incoming United manager Erik ten Hag has set his sights on.

It was reported last month that Edu has already held talks with David’s agent with the Gunners looking for at least one new forward this summer.

United are in the market for a new frontman to ease the burden on Cristiano Ronaldo, but do not have Champions League football with which to lure new recruits.

United to battle Arsenal for Jonathan David

The report reads: “Jonathan David and Darwin Nunez are two of the names on Ten Hag’s wish list as he looks to recruit a new centre forward who can dovetail with and eventually succeed Ronaldo. 

“Ten Hag, who is leaving Ajax to take over at Old Trafford, is understood to have been following David’s progress at Gent and Lille for some time.

“The Canada international has a host of admirers in the Premier League including Liverpool and Arsenal — though there has been no dialogue between the Gunners and David’s camp for some time now — and intends to leave Ligue 1 this summer.“

It seems the state of play where Arsenal are concerned is that there have been talks previously, but they have gone a bit quiet as it stands.

David has been described as a ‘phenomenon‘ in the past, but has just one goal in the past five months as his form has tailed off in a major way.

That puts him in a similar boat to Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been linked with Arsenal but has endured a season of stagnation.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that Lille want £42 million for David despite that disappointing season, which is likely affordable for Arsenal, even if they come outside the top four.