Jonathan David has set the Belgian Jupiler League alight so far this season.
The Canada international has scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in Belgium’s top flight.
That sees him joint-top of the goal scoring charts, sharing first spot with former Norwich City striker Dieumerci Mbokani.
He is already a star for his country, as well, having managed 11 goals in 12 caps. Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies, who starred in the Bavarian outfit’s 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Champions League, is not the only one of the Canucks to be making waves in Europe.
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His form has seen him attract interest from none other than Manchester United. According to The Daily Mail, they are currently scouting the 20-year-old, with Arsenal, Leicester City and Everton also all linked with the Gent ace.
January saw one attacking player arrive at Old Trafford in the form of Bruno Fernandes, but there is certainly room for another attacking midfielder in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad, primarily due to Jesse Lingard’s troubles.
The 27-year-old’s stock was relatively high after he had scored eight goals and provided six assists in the Premier League two seasons ago – he even started five of England’s seven World Cup matches as they made the semi-finals – but a lot has changed since then.
Off-the-field incidents have not helped the former Birmingham City loanee, and he has failed to register a single goal or assist in the top flight this season.
There is a significant gulf in quality between the Jupiler League and the Premier League, though, which means it makes more sense in comparing the duo’s respective performances and stats from the Europa League.
Still, even in that competition, it is the Canadian who leads the way.
Neither has managed an assist, but David has the more goals with three compared to the England international’s one. The former has, in all fairness, started more than twice as many games, but Lingard has appeared in six clashes himself, with them both averaging 1.4 shots per match. The Gent man, clearly, is more clinical in front of the target.
Both attacking midfielders, David leads the way in every single relevant department, other than key passes – they both average 0.9 per match. He comes out on top in terms of successful dribbles – he has completed 62% compared to 50% – whilst he has won 50% of his duels compared to Lingard’s 41%.
In the fouls won department, as well, it is the younger of the two who comes out on top, having earned 2.9 free-kicks per match compared to 0.9.
All of this makes bad reading for Lingard.
The Warrington-born man has long been lambasted by portions of his own fanbase and his struggle in recent seasons suggests that he is lacking the necessary level of quality to justify his place at one of world football’s most successful clubs.
Even at the age of just 27, Lingard’s best days may already be behind him and David would be a suitable upgrade for the Red Devils to sign in the summer.