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Home > Blog Post > David Brooks Might Come Across as Merely an Additional Attacking Option, But Its a Really Good One for Solskjaer to Consider

David Brooks Might Come Across as Merely an Additional Attacking Option, But Its a Really Good One for Solskjaer to Consider

According to reports from The Sun, Manchester United are considering Bournemouth star David Brooks as an alternative to Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho. Due to the sluggish and reluctant dealing by Dortmund, United are looking for a cheaper and less complicated alternative to Sancho.

What’s going on with Jadon Sancho? When is the Jadon Sancho deal happening? What’s taking the deal so long? Is he coming to Manchester United, or is he staying in Germany? These are just a few of the questions that will certainly be on the lips of just about every Manchester United fan right now.

With the Premier League 2020/21 season just weeks away from resuming, the Jadon Sancho potential move to Old Trafford is getting bleaker with every passing second. It is yet again, another long-running transfer saga that could potentially leave United short of challenging on all fronts.

Just like the Bruno Fernandes deal, United could find themselves prolonging a transfer that could well take them to the next level, probably signing the player a little too late.

Yes, the current financial situation is the issue with this deal, United do not want to pay the reported £108million that Dortmund are demanding, considering the amount they’ve lost because of the coronavirus pandemic and Dortmund want to sell Sancho at his correct value. The ball has always been in United’s court, its a question of whether Ed Woodward would be willing to part with such a figure.

Sancho Manchester United, David Brooks
(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

It’s important to consider the financial implications of this deal. However, Woodward must also realise the marketing pull and shirt sales that signing Sancho will bring. He is a marquee signing, one that United desperately need, of course, a player with an incredible pedigree and most importantly, potential.

As attractive a Sancho signing would be, it hasn’t helped the devout United supporters that they are also being linked with Douglas Costa, Federico Bernardeschi, and Ousmane Dembele as alternatives, players who aren’t even first-team regulars at their clubs as well as being injury-prone.

To add insult to injury, now reports from the Daily Mail are claiming that Bournemouth’s Welsh international David Brooks is being considered as a Sancho alternative. Many are perceiving that United’s standards are dropping because they are failing to secure Sancho’s signature.

It must be stressed that the Borussia Dortmund winger remains Manchester United’s top target this summer, as per various reports. David Brooks isn’t a David Sancho alternative, but rather another attacking option, something United have lacked considerably, especially during the closing stages of the campaign.

While many fans may disagree with a David Brooks signing, because he may not be on the levels of Jadon Sancho, it doesn’t mean he won’t prove to be a very valuable and sensible addition to the United attack.

Certainly, Brooks may not be grasping at the levels of the Dortmund youngster right now, but he’s a player with considerable potential, and arguably better than the back-up options Ole Gunnar Solskjaer currently holds at his disposal. The Welshman is also reportedly being linked to Liverpool, which says a lot about his quality.

The past year has been a tough one for David Brooks after suffering an ankle injury against Brentford in a pre-season friendly in August 2019, an injury that was supposed to rule him out until October 2019. However, the injury proved to be very complicated for him, sidelining him for much of the season. If it had not been for the lockdown, Brooks wouldn’t have featured at all last season.

David Brooks, United
(Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

After enjoying a remarkable breakthrough 2018/19 campaign, scoring 7 goals and assisting 5 in 30 Premier League outings is an astonishing return for a player experiencing his first proper taste of top-flight football. Upon his return after the lockdown, his performances weren’t enough to get Bournemouth out of trouble, however, Brooks provided a telling reminder of his qualities.

His performance against Manchester City in July, scoring a consolation goal, showed that he’s certainly got what it takes, even after a difficult injury period. David Brooks is simply too good to be playing Championship football.

He’s a multi-functional player, capable of playing anywhere across the front three. He’s certainly not the quickest but is a silky forward blessed with tremendous technical qualities. Regularly featured on the right-hand side of Bournemouth’s attack, he’s often given the license and freedom to roam across the forward line, not confined to just sticking wide.

Brook’s vision and on-the-ball qualities owe him that sort of freedom. He’s a different player to his fellow Welshman Daniel James, the difference being Brooks is better with the ball at his feet than without it.

He’s an inventive player and had he been available to Eddie Howe throughout the season, maybe Bournemouth could still be looking at gracing the Premier League in a few weeks. The club weren’t their usual selves in the attack last campaign, always being able to bail themselves out of bad defensive phases of play, going up the other end and scoring goals.

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Because of Brooks’ absence, they didn’t have invention and imagination, they lacked creativity, someone who could take up the ball in between the lines of play and dissect defences with his fine through balls or link effectively with Callum Wilson or Josh King. That’s the type of influence David Brooks held during the 2018/19 campaign, the sort of influence that had Manchester United interested in his services in the first place, even in the past.

Brooks provides a versatility in his game that not even Lingard, Pereira, James, or Mata can provide. When lining up anywhere across the attack, there’s an assuredness and commitment that stands him out amongst the rest. It’s the character more than the ability that Solskjaer values so dear and David Brooks offers both in abundance, especially a unique potential that a lot of the elite managers in the Premier League would love the luxury of harnessing.

£40million may seem a considerable amount for a player who has just suffered relegation with Bournemouth, and you’d think that Brooks’ price tag would be lowered as a result, but it says a lot of his talents that Bournemouth value him so highly. To stress further, David Brooks isn’t a Sancho alternative, but an additional option in attack, a player of real quality.

Stay tuned to know more about Man Utd.

Anthony Onifade
A highly ambitious and motivated freelance football journalist always ready to speak his mind regarding the current affairs that arise throughout the footballing world, especially the Barclays Premier League and around Europe within the context of the Champions League. Owner of a well-renowned football website called 'Between the Lines' and a frequent listener and speaker on various football radio and podcast shows. Young, driven, dedicated, determined and a true football fanatic. Expect his contributions to 'It's Round and White' to be extremely engaging.

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