Why David Brooks could be the perfect cheap alternative to Sancho for Man United

He's not in the same league as Sancho but would provide much needed cover across several positions

Manchester United are understood to be keeping tabs on Bournemouth's David Brooks, and could launch a £40m bid in the coming days, according to the Manchester Evening News. Brooks is seen as a cheaper alternative to Sancho, who United have pursued for months to no avail and Borussia Dortmund seem determined to keep for another year at least. The obvious thing to point out is that Brooks is not in the same league as Sancho in terms of talent and production. But that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a good signing. If watching United for the past few weeks should have taught the club anything, it's that the squad is crying out for strength in depth. That Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waited until the 87th minute to make his first substitute against Sevilla with his team visibly fatigued only confirmed this fact. The drop in quality from the first team to the bench is too vast, to the point that the greatest super sub of the Premier League era is reluctant to make a sub. Brooks would plug this gap in the squad perfectly. An easy comparison to make would be to Dan James, who looks very much like a fish out of water at United, but Brooks has more strings to his bow than his compatriot. Capable of playing on either wing or as a 10, Brooks would provide much needed cover for Greenwood on the right, Rashford on the left and Fernandes through the middle. With so many games to play, that rotation option would allow Solskjaer to keep his key men fit for the most important games. His skillset would also suit United's attacking game well; slight in frame but not slow, he likes to take on defenders and has an eye for a through ball. He fits what vague semblance of a philosophy United have. In terms of negotiation, it would be a much more straightforward transfer to pull off than Sancho, obviously. Bournemouth need the money, Brooks will want to play in the Premier League, and United can easily afford the £40m fee - not cheap but reasonable for a 23-year old who will only improve. Sancho should remain United's top target in the long-term but at the moment they need bodies more than anything, and Brooks would be the ideal upgrade on their sub-standard substitutes bench.