LOSC Lille have reportedly slapped a massive price tag of €55 million on star forward Jonathan David amid serious interest from Premier League giants Arsenal.
According to a report from French publication Jeunes Footeux, LOSC Lille president Olivier Letang has set an asking price of €55 million on Jonathan David as he hopes to stave off interest from Arsenal, who are keen to sign the forward next summer.
David, a Canadian professional, made his way to Europe in 2018, signing for Belgian giants KAA Gent and spent over two years at the club before arriving at Lille in the summer of 2020. In his very first year in France, the 21-year-old forward played a key role in Les Dogues’ surprise Ligue 1 title triumph, bagging 13 goals and three assists from 37 games.
David looks set to better his tally this term, having already managed 11 goals from just 17 league outings in the ongoing campaign while scoring two times in five UEFA Champions League fixtures as well. It has led to an interest in his services from several top clubs across Europe, with Liverpool mentioned as a suitor, while Newcastle United have been linked with him as well.
Now, Arsenal, too, have entered the race to sign David from Lille in the summer. The Gunners are in the market for a new centre-forward and understandably so, as both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah will be out of contract at the end of the season and are unlikely to renew their deals.
In addition to that, club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been in poor form yet again this season while he is not getting any younger either. So, it makes sense for Arsenal to add a young goalscorer to their ranks who can take over as the leading No. 9 in the years to come. Recent reports have indicated that they are interested in Everton’s Dominic Calvert Lewin, while Brazilian ace Yuri Alberto is also a target.
David, too, is very much on the agenda for the north London giants. However, for them to sign him in the summer of 2022, Arsenal will now have to shell out a sum of €55 million.
The Gunners have previously raided Lille for two players – club-record signing Nicolas Pepe in 2019 and defender Gabriel Magalhaes last year. While the former has struggled big time and could be on his way out, the latter has established himself as a mainstay in Mikel Arteta’s team. It will certainly be interesting to see if Arsenal end up raiding Lille for a third straight transfer window and meet David’s valuation.