Manchester United have been told to shell out £40 million for Bournemouth star David Brooks, who has been identified as an alternative for Jadon Sancho.
According to The Sun, Manchester United are looking at Bournemouth winger David Brooks as a potential alternative for primary transfer target Jadon Sancho, but will have to pay up £40 million for the Welshman.
Brooks started out at the Manchester City academy before moving to the Sheffield United youth setup in 2014. Having made close to 40 senior appearances for the Blades, the 23-year-old signed for Bournemouth in the summer of 2018, in a deal that cost the Cherries £11.8 million.
Brooks enjoyed a fine debut campaign in the Premier League with Bournemouth, as he racked up seven goals and five assists in 30 league matches. However, a serious ankle injury meant he only featured nine times in the recently concluded campaign, grabbing one goal in the process.
With Bournemouth getting relegated, they are staring at the prospect of losing a number of their key players. In fact, the Cherries have already seen Nathan Ake sign for Manchester City, while Aaron Ramsdale left the club for Sheffield United. And it seems like Brooks could be next on the list, with Manchester United taking an interest in him.
The Red Devils’ pursuit of Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho is no secret. However, it seems like the deal to land the England international has hit a snag, with the German giants insisting that they will not sell him, now that the team has resumed their pre-season training.
But, the club needs a new right-sided winger this summer, given the lack of a proper option for the position. While Mason Greenwood did a fine job on the flank in the 2019/20 term, he is primarily a centre-forward.
Daniel James fizzled out after a strong start to his debut campaign with United. Furthermore, he looked far more comfortable playing on the left flank than on the right. With the likes of Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard facing uncertain futures, bringing in attacking reinforcements is of paramount importance for the Red Devils.
Brooks, to that end, would represent a handy option. The 23-year-old Welshman is able to play in a multitude of positions, which would offer Solskjaer flexibility with his team selection.
However, Bournemouth are keen on holding on to him, with new manager Jason Tindall looking to build his team around the Welshman. But, the report does state that a bid in the region of £40 million could tempt the south coast club to cash in on the winger.
Along with Manchester United, Brooks has also been linked with a surprise move to Liverpool, while the likes of Everton and Tottenham are also interested. It remains to be seen if the Red Devils do launch an attempt to land the Wales international this summer.
