Manchester United transfer update: Ruben Amorim learns fate of striker as Tottenham-linked forward in 'advanced talks'

United advanced past Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday night, controversially beating the Foxes 2-1 after Harry Maguire's late winner.

Tottenham were eliminated from the semi-final of the EFL Cup on Thursday after squandering their 1-0 first-leg lead when they lost 4-0 against Liverpool in the second.

The Red Devils are 13th in the Premier League while Spurs are 14th, and both tried to strengthen in the forward line during the January window, with Tottenham beating United to the loan signing of Mathys Tel.

However, TBR Football claim that both teams are set to miss out on Lille striker Jonathan David, who is out of contract at the end of the season and is likely to be signed by Spanish giants Barcelona.

Jonathan David assessed

The Canadian striker has consistently proven he is able to find the back of the net, scoring at least 13 league goals in each of his four full seasons in Ligue 1 with Lille.

David has already found the back of the net 12 times in 19 Ligue 1 appearances this term, and the 25-year-old has also produced three assists.

It is not uncommon to see David dropping deeper to try collect the ball and these attributes could make him a good understudy to Barca striker Robert Lewandowski, though the Lille forward will almost certainly be looking for regular minutes given Lewandowski is 36.

The La Liga side have been eyeing offensive reinforcements for some time, with United's Marcus Rashford having been touted as a potential option in the January transfer market.

How much of a blow would missing Jonathan David be for United and Spurs?

United are in desperate need of attacking firepower considering they have only scored 28 times in the Premier League, a return that makes them the fifth worst offensive club in the division.

Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have only scored a combined five goals in the league in 2024-25, and the pair have routinely underwhelmed when given chances to impress Amorim this term.

Meanwhile, though Spurs have scored 48 goals in the top flight - the joint third most in the Premier League - they are set to be without striker Dominic Solanke until March.

Additionally, Tel is only 19 and it would be unfair to expect the teenager to fill in for Solanke, so perhaps one of Ange Postecoglou's priorities in the summer should be securing adequate cover in attack for his first-choice forwards should they miss out because of injury.

Written by

Lewis Nolan