MU target's coach claims 'most important thing' as club wait on decision

Jonathan David has confirmed he will leave Lille at the end of the season but the Canadian international has yet to announce where he will play his football next term

Canada striker Jonathan David will be a wanted man this summer as he prepares to leave Lille on a free transfer. Manchester United are among the clubs in the mix for the Ligue 1 hotshot, but his international boss Jesse Marsch doesn't expect him to go anywhere without a guarantee of first team football.

David will be one of the leading men for Canada as they look to get out of the group stage at a men's World Cup for the first time. They picked up just one point in Qatar in 2022, but enter the 2026 edition as co-hosts along with the United States and Mexico.

25-year-old striker David is already his country's all-time top scorer, but enters this summer with a big decision to make. And it's one with former Leeds boss Marsch - who led Canada to third place in the CONCACAF Nations League in March - has shed some light on what the frontman will think about ahead of his upcoming move.

“Knowing Johnny, he is going to want to play,” Marsch told reporters as Canada named a preliminary squad ahead of this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup. “He’s going to want to go to the best club he can be at. And I think achieve the most in terms of what it would mean to compete for trophies in Europe.

"But he’s going to want to play as well. And I think that’s important. I think the most important thing for him is, it’s not good if he goes somewhere and then he has to play on the bench a lot and not get minutes to keep himself sharp and fit and ready to go, especially with the World Cup being a year away.”

United are among a number of sides keen on David, who scored 109 goals across 232 games for Lille. Napoli are also reported to have held talks with a view to a swoop, while Inter Milan have also been linked.

If the forward joins Inter, Marsch wouldn't expect him to feature in the Gold Cup. That tournament overlaps with the Club World Cup, where Inter have been drawn in a group with River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds and Monterrey.

Lille finished fifth in Ligue 1 this season, securing Europa League football next term. However, ahead of the final game of the season, David confirmed it would be his last.

"I wanted you to hear from me that after five years at the club, it's time to say goodbye," he said on Instagram. "I've spent five amazing years in Lille.I know it hasn't been the easiest, but I hope that my goals and celebrations have brought you joy and happiness. It's been a long and fun ride, and especially with those two titles that we won together, I think [that] makes the story even better."

He also shared a message to his team-mates, coaches and club staff, before addressing the fans once more and saying: "I know the beginning wasn't the easiest, we had some hard moments, but I think that with your support and your help it has helped me flourish throughout all these years and make me the player I am today."