Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing a swoop for LOSC Lille forward Jonathan David, with manager Carlo Ancelotti keen on signing the 21-year-old.
According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has requested the club to make a move for LOSC Lille’s Canadian forward Jonathan David during the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old David spent the formative years of his footballing career in his homeland, Canada before moving to Europe in January 2018 when he signed for KAA Gent. He blossomed into an exciting young attacker with the Belgian giants, bagging 37 goals and 15 assists in 83 matches, before Lille came calling in the summer last year.
David snubbed interest from several top clubs to sign for Lille and went on to play a key role in their surprise Ligue 1 title victory. Indeed, the 21-year-old enjoyed a fairly productive debut campaign in France, bagging a total of 13 goals and 3 assists from 37 league outings and has started the new season on a positive note as well, netting six times in just nine outings in the French top-flight.
This has seemingly put him on the radars of Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian was said to be keen on signing him while at Everton and has now asked the La Liga giants to make a move for the 21-year-old in the upcoming January transfer window, as per the aforementioned report.
Real Madrid have one of the best strikers in Europe in the form of Karim Benzema leading the line. However, as far as backup and support for the Frenchman in the centre-forward role goes, things look bleak for Los Blancos. Luka Jovic has just not clicked in the famous white of Madrid and looks set to move on in January.
Mariano Diaz, meanwhile, has also struggled to find favour under Ancelotti and has struggled when given a chance as well. So, it does not come as a surprise that Real Madrid are looking for another striker to add to the squad during the mid-season trading period, even though plans are being made to secure both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the summer.
A move for Manchester United veteran Edinson Cavani has been mooted, with David also emerging as an option at the request of Ancelotti. One concern for Real Madrid would be the 21-year-old’s status of being a non-EU player, with La Liga only allowing for three such players to be registered, which Los Blancos already have in the form of Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior and Eder Militao.
However, that problem is expected to be resolved by Christmas, with the club anticipating Vinicius to get a Spanish passport by then, which would free up a non-EU spot in the squad. Valued at around €40-45 million by Lille, David could come in to fill that slot and provide Benzema with much-needed support as Real Madrid look to reclaim the La Liga title from their neighbours.
