The FIFA World Cup, often dubbed the biggest shop window in football, is once again delivering on its promise, with 89 goals already scored across 28 games and two hat-tricks lighting up the tournament. Among the standout performers capturing significant attention are Canada’s Jonathan David and Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, both now firmly on the radar of several Premier League clubs for potential moves in the 2026-27 season.
Jonathan David’s historic hat-trick and Juventus exit rumours
Jonathan David, the 26-year-old Brooklyn-born forward, has been a revelation for Canada, netting a hat-trick in their historic 6-0 victory over Qatar in Group B. This emphatic win marked Canada’s first-ever World Cup triumph in eight attempts, witnessed by over 50,000 jubilant fans in Vancouver. David’s individual achievement also made him the first Juventus player since Paolo Rossi in 1982 to record a hat-trick at the World Cup.
Before his 2025 move to Juventus, David honed his skills with Gent in Belgium and Lille in Ligue 1, where he amassed 87 goals in 178 league appearances. He has also been prolific on the international stage, with 39 goals in 78 appearances for Canada. However, his time in Turin has seen him register six goals and four assists in 34 Serie A appearances, and he has reportedly “tumbled down the pecking order.”
According to Graeme Bailey, Juventus are reportedly willing to let David depart to free up their summer budget, as they look to reshape their attack and potentially target Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani. This availability has piqued the interest of several English clubs.
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“He has been great, got himself a nice hat-trick. Really good centre-forward play,” commented former England forward Dion Dublin on BBC Radio 5 Live, highlighting David’s clinical performance.
Newcastle United are reportedly interested, while the Yorkshire Post, referencing TEAMtalk, stated that Leeds United, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, and Brighton & Hove Albion have all been made aware of David’s availability. Leeds, who strengthened their frontline last summer with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, could be looking to further bolster their options, especially with last season’s top scorer Joel Piroe linked with a move away from Elland Road.
Johan Manzambi’s record-breaking impact for Switzerland
Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi has also made headlines, becoming the youngest player in World Cup history to score two or more goals in a game as a substitute. The 20-year-old, at 20 years and 247 days old, netted twice after coming on against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group B, helping Switzerland to a 4-1 victory at the Los Angeles Stadium. He narrowly missed a hat-trick after a 97th-minute penalty, which would have made him the third-youngest player to achieve a World Cup treble, behind Pelé (17, 1958) and Edmund Conen (19, 1934).
Manzambi’s journey is a unique one; he began his youth career as a goalkeeper, idolizing Germany’s Manuel Neuer, before transitioning into a creative midfielder. He broke into the Freiburg first XI last season, playing a key role in their run to the Europa League final, where they ultimately lost 3-0 to Aston Villa.
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His performance has not gone unnoticed by Premier League giants. “It’s a brilliant finish. Switzerland needed to make changes because they weren’t doing anything, they were dominating possession but weren’t a threat. It’s a fantastic volley and great technique to give Switzerland the lead,” noted former Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live after Manzambi’s first goal.
Napoli, Chelsea, and Manchester United have been linked with Manzambi, with Arsenal also reportedly showing interest earlier in March, according to BBC Sport.
As the World Cup progresses, the performances of David and Manzambi underscore the tournament’s power to elevate players onto the global stage, potentially paving the way for significant moves to Europe’s top leagues in the coming transfer windows.
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