West Ham battling with European giants to sign Lille star Jonathan David this summer
West Ham are chasing the transfer of Jonathan David despite strong interest from European giants, per a report.
This comes after a report from French website But! claim that they know the ‘truth’ of David’s situation. The Canada international signed for Lille from KAA Gent during the 2020 summer transfer window. The deal was worth a reported £22.5 million and the striker is tied down until 2025.
He was also part of the squad that ended Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 dominance after they failed to win the title for the first time since 2017.
The striker was integral in Lille’s surprise title win and contributed to 18 goals throughout the campaign.
Fast forward to now, however, and David is rumoured to be transferring away from Les Douges with a plethora of potential suitors lining up bids.
The report from But! states that Lille would like to keep the player, although it’s too soon to know if he’ll stay.
Rather surprisingly, two Premier league teams in Aston Villa and West Ham are vying for the Canadian’s services.
Both of which are reportedly ‘particularly likely’ to write a big cheque to acquire the 22-year-old.
Plenty of potential destinations for Jonathan David
Although the interest is high from both Villa and the Hammers, the report claims that David might be waiting for a stronger side.
Inter Milan, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain are all reportedly interested in snaring him.
This showcases how highly sought-after David is in the footballing world and demonstrates the ability he possesses.
West Ham and Villa will face a rather uphill battle in order to convince the attacker to join them.
If a deal is struck between Lille and an interested party, it is set to cost around £42.5m. This is a hefty sum for a player who has only spent two seasons in a top five European league.
The report also suggests that the price tag is yet another reason why it will be difficult to reach an agreement between clubs.
David could solve West Ham striker problem
It’s clear to see that West Ham need to bolster thier ranks across the pitch in the upcoming transfer window.
With the Hammers in contention for another season in Europe next term, they need more options to avoid fatigue.
The club currently only have one recognised striker in Michail Antonio and he will be 33 next season.
The Jamaica international has been West Ham’s talisman in recent years.
He has, however, become rather injury-prone over the last two seasons, missing 87 days of football in that time.
Whether that’s because of over-use or just because he is getting older, David Moyes’ team are in dire need of a back up striker.
David would fit the style Moyes strives for his team to use. He has some of the same attributes Antonio possesses and has been commonly deployed as a lone-striker.
This bodes well with West Ham on a tactical basis as Moyes’ preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1.
West ham should throw everything they have at Jonathan David. It would show real intent on their behalf and showcase they’re among the top teams in the country.
