According to a recent report by The Sun, Manchester United could rekindle their interest in acquiring the services of David Brooks from Bournemouth but only if he can regain his fitness. The same source has also added that the Red Devils will face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of the young Welsh playmaker this summer.
Brooks’ Incredible Form In The Premier League Last Season
Brooks has still not featured for the Cherries this season as he has been out of action for a long time after undergoing ankle surgery. However, he had an incredible breakout campaign in the last term when he put in several eye-catching displays under Eddie Howe’s stewardship at the Vitality Stadium.
The Warrington-born talent registered seven goals and five assists in 33 appearances for Bournemouth in the 2018-19 campaign which made him a fan-favourite in England. He had averaged 1.4 shots, 1.0 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League last season (stats via whoscored). Brooks’ numbers highlight his growing influence at the South-coast club in the previous campaign.
The 22-year-old has also secured 12 senior caps for the Wales national team but has found the back of the net only once for his country thus far. If he can fully recover from his recent injury-setback, then a high-profile summer switch to Old Trafford could give him the ideal platform to stake a claim in Ryan Giggs’ squad for the upcoming UEFA European Championship which has been delayed as a result of the recent COVID-19 outbreak.
What Are The Welsh Midfielder’s Best Attributes?
Brooks has a low centre of gravity which allows him to get out of tight spaces and cause a lot of problems for the opposition defenders. He excels at making clever runs with the ball and can regularly contribute by scoring or creating goals in the final third. The Wales international is not only a potent goal-threat on the counter but also is not shy of setting up his teammates if they are open inside the opposition penalty box. However, it is still unclear whether he will be able to maintain his form and hit the heights of last season when he eventually returns from his ankle injury later this year.
Is Brooks The Right Choice For The Red Devils?
Recruiting a playmaker of Brooks’ quality and potential could turn out to be a shrewd move for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if he can successfully manage to lure him to the Theatre of Dreams during the summer transfer period. He will be a significant upgrade over Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira after the duo has flattered to deceive with their performances this season. Furthermore, the young midfielder will also be the perfect long-term replacement for Juan Mata, who is edging towards the twilight years of his football career.
Brooks will add some much-needed goals and creativity to the Man United frontline. He has the ceiling to become a Premier League great if he can continue to improve his game with each year. Despite his recent injury concerns, the Mancunian giants should take a gamble on Brooks this summer as it seems like he could be a decent choice for them in the long-run.
