In a twist of events, Liverpool have reportedly thrown their hat into the ring alongside Chelsea in the pursuit of signing Jonathan David from Lille. The 24-year-old striker has been in sensational form, netting an impressive 87 goals in 187 competitive matches since his move from Gent to Lille in 2020.
During the last season, David showcased his goal-scoring prowess by bagging 26 goals in 47 appearances, with 19 of those goals coming in the league, placing him second in the scoring charts alongside Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette. His fine form has carried into the new campaign as well, with three goals in Lille’s first five matches across all competitions.
With his contract running down, speculations around David’s future have been rife. Chelsea, who had initially eyed Victor Osimhen, are now considering David as a potential alternative according to reports. However, Caught Offside claims that Liverpool have now emerged as contenders in the race for the Canadian international.
Liverpool’s interest in David seems to have intensified as they look to secure his services before the upcoming transfer deadline on Friday. They are reportedly willing to offer him a long-term contract spanning up to five years. Despite David’s contract situation, Lille is said to demand a fee ranging from €45m to €50m for his services.
In addition to Chelsea and Liverpool, David has also attracted interest from Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Serie A side Napoli. The competition for his signature is heating up, with clubs lining up to secure his services.
Liverpool, under their new sporting director Richard Hughes, have endured a challenging summer transfer window without making any significant signings. The failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad left them empty-handed in midfield reinforcements. However, the potential signing of David would strengthen their attacking options, adding depth to their already talented forward line which includes Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Darwin Nunez.
The race for Jonathan David’s signature is on, and it remains to be seen which club will emerge victorious in securing the services of the highly sought-after striker.
