Liverpool are readying a swoop for Lille striker Jonathan David if he becomes available this summer, with the Reds monitoring his progress for the past few years.
According to the reports in Canadian outlet TSN, Liverpool are interested in Jonathan David and will move for the striker should he be placed on the transfer market by Lille, who are in deep financial troubles despite winning the Ligue 1 last season.
This is not the first time David is linked with an Anfield switch. He was on the three-man wishlist that Jurgen Kloop had prepared last summer before the Reds eventually purchased Diogo Jota. Since then, Liverpool have been keeping a close watch on the players’ development, and he is in high regard in Klopp’s thoughts.
David struggled for goals initially when he joined Lille from Gent in a reported deal worth £25 million. But he soon proved his mettle after acclimatizing to the new environment as he struck 13 goals and registered five assists in the 48 appearances in all competitions helping the Les Dogues to an unlikely Ligue 1 triumph ahead of French giants PSG.
He has also shone for his nation, netting a prolific 15 goals in just 16 appearances made for the Canadian national football team. His style of play is a bit similar to his predecessor at Lille, Victor Osimhen, who is currently plying his trade at Napoli, The Canadian is incredibly versatile can play anywhere in a front-three or as a second-striker if required.
David is a modern-type striker who is blessed with abundant pace and acceleration. He has got a decent skill-set and trickery in his locker. He is tenacious and instinctive in front of goal.
It’s an open secret that Liverpool are scouting the market for a goal scorer to bolster their attacking options after they struggled to find the back of the net on a regular basis last season. Roberto Firmino looked out of depth at times in the last campaign and the Reds will need a decent back-up if the Brazilian fails again.
Signing David would mean another smart bit of business from spendthrift FSG, investing in a prodigious talent for a reasonable fee if the Reds can exploit Lille’s dire financial standing. In the worst-case scenario, they would earn a decent profit by reselling the player if the move doesn’t work out.
It is turning out to be a frustrating window so far for Liverpool fans; though the club have signed an excellent young defender in Ibrahima Konate to strengthen the centre-back department, they are yet to address the apparent lack of quality depth in midfield and forward areas.
It is believed that the Liverpool hierarchy are waiting on wings expecting a mass exodus before making their moves in the market, with all Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being linked with a move away from the club.
Liverpool have already sold winger Harry Wilson and Taiwo Awoniyi to Fulham and Union Berlin respectively to net some amount for their potential signings. What now remains to be seen is whether or not Liverpool will step up their interest in Lille’s attacking talent with a formal approach.
