If a report from Calciomercato is believed to be true, West Ham United are set to rival Inter Milan for Lille sensation Jonathan David. There are a few other suitors for the Canadian international including Premier League heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal as well as Manchester City.
David earned the limelight during his stint in Belgium with Gent. A couple of successful seasons earned him a €30m transfer to Lille back in the summer of 2020, and the youngster made an immediate impact en route to conquering the Ligue 1 crown ahead of Paris St-Germain. He has been integral to their success high up the pitch, and an array of European hotshots are circling like vultures to secure his service.
The 22-year-old centre-forward has netted 17 goals in 39 outings across competitions and is hoping to add a few more by the closure of the ongoing campaign. He is most effective as a second striker but has also exhibited his creative spark as an attacking midfielder. Moreover, a ‘Number 9’ role suits his game as he has been spearheading the Lille attack with sheer expertise and composure.
Why West Ham United Must Step Up The Chase
The Hammers, meanwhile, are over-reliant on Michail Antonio high up the pitch. Although he has been a revelation under David Moyes in recent years, the club must find a long-term successor for the 32-year-old Englishman.
Andriy Yarmolenko had his moments as the understudy to Antonio, but the 32-year-old Ukrainian is expected to part ways once his contract expires by the end of the current season. They made an ambitious £45m move for Sébastien Haller, who, however, failed to live up to the expectations in East London. His €22.5m transfer to Ajax was sanctioned over a year ago and it’s time for West Ham to opt for a new name in the upcoming summer window.
Inter, on the other hand, might struggle to keep hold of Lautaro Martinez amid interest from various outfits. Edin Džeko, 36, has been impressive as a short-term solution, but the Serie A giants must tie down someone who would restore stability for years to come.
Lille, the reigning French champions, had a dreadful start to their title defence. They were stuck in the bottom half at one stage but have recovered enough to contest for a place in Europe. David is anchoring their attack in recent games, and it remains to be seen if he guides Les Dogues to climb up further over the next couple of months.
