Several Premier League Clubs, West Ham United included, looked this summer at Canadian striker Jonathan David, but at the time, his club Lille were able to keep hold of him.
Now the 24 year old has informed his club that he will not be signing a new contract in the summer: Lille will most certainly want to cash in on him by selling him for whatever fee they might receive in January (which is only 13 weeks away…).
Amongst the clubs mentioned in the report by TBRFootball who are interested in the striker are the ‘usual suspects’- Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa (eh?) and The Irons.
Football-italia.net meanwhile announce that: “Juventus has reportedly opened talks to sign Jonathan David on a free transfer at the end of the season, as the Lille striker’s contract is set to expire in June 2025. With 26 goals scored from 47 games played for the French side last season across all competitions, the Canada international drew interest from several elite European clubs”
West Ham are said to be ‘monitoring’ the availability of the Centre Forward and depending on what happens this Autumn with the Irons’ newest striker recruit Niclas Fullkrug, it may well be that West Ham coach Lopetegui asks Steidten to go back into the market for an upgrade on the creaking Antonio and Ings, neither of whom are getting regular starts at London Stadium.
Whether Tim Steidten will find Chairman David Sullivan in any mood to shell out the expected transfer price heading up towards €50 million is another matter: If – and we all hope not – The Hammers are languishing towards the bottom of the table after Christmas then there maybe be more urgency and a desire to bring in more firepower.
The Irons will be heavily committed financially and may well need to move Ings or Antonio on before making a signing this winter: At the prices discussed it is unlikely that we’ll be adding a Canadian to our ranks.
However, having failed in their bid to bring Jhon Duran in during the summer, over a £5 million difference in valuation, it’s clear West Ham have some re-appraising to do over the price of a real, top quality forward. At the moment I don’t see us shopping in the same store as some of those clubs mentioned, for a £45 million-plus striker, however much we might need one come January.
