United could make £40m swoop for Brooks
MANCHESTER United are yet to make official contact with Bournemouth winger David Brooks but could make a serious bid, as their attempts to sign Jadon Sancho continue to stall.
Brooks has been on United’s radar for some time and could be attainable for around £40million this summer, with the Cherries needing to sell players after their relegation from the Premier League.
Whether or not Brooks would be signed as a direct ‘Sancho alternative’ remains to be seen. United’s negotiations with Dortmund over top target Sancho have hit a stumbling block, though United chiefs have not given up on signing Sancho despite the German club’s ‘deadline’ for a sale now having passed.
As reported in May, Brooks and Bournemouth teammate Josh King were both being targeted by United as possible summer options, though the latter was only in case Odion Ighalo’s loan was not extended.
Now it appears the 23-yearold is a firm target but there have been no talks yet between United and the player’s representatives.
Brooks has impressed at the Vitality Stadium, though missed a large chunk of last season through injury. It is thought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could seek the advice of former Old Trafford teammate Ryan Giggs, who manages Brooks at international level for Wales. Solskjaer consulted Giggs on the signing of fellow Welshman Daniel James a year ago.
Brooks has previously been linked with Tottenham and possesses the youth, talent and versatility that make him an attractive proposition for clubs like United.
Solskjaer recently spoke about the need for United to make quality additions and find the right personnel this summer.
“It’s a strange one,” he said. “The league starts very quickly but the market’s open for so long. We’ve got to be good, smart and clever. It’s not about marquee, it’s about quality. You need to have the right player, the right personality, someone who fits into the group and makes us better. We might look at it today and see where we can improve it.”