Manchester United see relegated Welshman as Sancho alternative
Could Welshman David Brooks be set to a move to the red half of Manchester?
The drawn out transfer of Jadon Sancho appears no closer to being resolved for Manchester United, which has led to the club looking for suitable replacements and they appear to have landed on Welsh winger David Brooks of Bournemouth as one such candidate.
In what was a torrid year on the south coast, Bournemouth’s relegation has meant an end to their stay in the top flight and as a result they have seen a number of their key figures become targets for Premier League sides, with Nathan Ake having moved to Manchester City and number 1 Aaron Ramsdale re-joining boyhood club Sheffield United.
From the remaining squad, David Brooks is the Cherries star asset and could be the next to leave in a big-money move. After being beset by injuries during the latest campaign, the Welshman is set for a rebound year and would offer United another creative outlet.
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Brooks is a play-making right-winger but has the ability to play across the forward line shining as a number 10 and offering balance when playing from the left. Bournemouth largely operated a 4-4-2 when Brooks was in the side and from here would take up clever positions just inside from his station on the right, opening lanes for the overlapping runs of right back Adam Smith whilst allowing Brooks to combine with the forwards.
Carrying a wand of a left foot, Brooks showed in his first season of top-flight football he was made for this level of competition and with some eye-catching displays plundering 7 goals and creating 5 assists. These performances saw him nominated for the PFA Young Player of the year award and draw admiring glances from the leagues bigger clubs.
Blessed with a lovely turn of pace and silk like control, Brooks has the ability to carry the ball great distances at speed, turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye. This pace will be an excellent addition to Manchester United’s counter attacking transitions and when looking to get in behind the opposition, giving passing options to the team’s chief creators Pogba and Fernandes.
His skill on the ball and eye for a killer pass round out his versatile attacking game, a valuable commodity for the varied opposition Manchester United will likely encounter throughout the campaign and would provide a different threat for opposition sides to prepare against.
Brooks is still not the finished article yet and does have areas he can continue to work on. A willing defender and competitor, the winger is not the strongest of players and is susceptible to losing 1 v 1 duels being dispossessed in his first season on average 1.4 times a game.
A direct replacement for Sancho the Welshman is not but then there are not many players like the London born Dortmund man attainable on the transfer market. Brooks would provide an excellent attacking spark from either the starting 11 or the bench.
The recent defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League final left Solskjaer bemoaning the lack of depth of quality throughout the squad and adding the Bournemouth wide man would be an excellent place to start.
Related Story. Manchester United to look at alternative options as move for Sancho stalls. light
What do you guys think Brooks would bring to the Man Utd lineup?