Barcelona and West Ham United are reportedly among the clubs keen on signing 21-year-old Lille attacking sensation Jonathan David.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Barcelona and West Ham United have set their sights on Jonathan David. The 21-year-old Lille striker is one of the most highly sought-after players in Europe at the moment.
Jonathan David arrived at Lille from KAA Gent in August 2020 and has since established himself as one of the most prolific attackers in Ligue 1. The Canadian striker was sensational as Les Dogues pipped Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title in the 2020/21 season. And he has stepped his game up further this term.
The 21-year-old has been a rare bright spot in a difficult campaign for Lille, with 11 goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances. His exploits have not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and West Ham United, setting their sights on him.
The interest from Barcelona makes sense, as they have been forced to dip their toes in the transfer market for a striker following Sergio Aguero’s decision to hang up his boots due to a heart ailment. With Martin Braithwaite not very reliable when playing week in week out and Luuk de Jong deemed surplus to requirement, Barcelona’s need to sign a striker has accentuated.
As a result, the Catalan giants have recently been linked with several centre-forwards, including ex-West Ham United attacker Sebastien Haller, with David also a viable target. On the other hand, West Ham United’s search for a striker has been ongoing since January.
The Hammers have been in the transfer market a striker since Haller’s departure in January. However, the Londoners have failed to sign a viable option to fill that spot for two successive transfer windows. With Michail Antonio the only reliable striker at David Moyes’s disposal, West Ham must sign a striker in January, with David emerging as a target.
The report does not mention whether Barcelona and West Ham are plotting a January move for the 21-year-old. So, it remains to be seen if Lille will be forced to consider a sale this coming winter or if the suitors wait till the summer transfer window to launch the offensive for David.
