As reported by David Ornstein of Atlético, Chelsea They have held talks with the representatives of LOSC Lille centre-forward Jonathan David about a possible transfer this summer.
The Blues have yet to reach a formal agreement, but Ornstein notes that they have a good working relationship with Lille's owners, Merlyn Partners, given that Todd Boehly's BlueCo company also recently took over the Ligue 1 club, Strasbourg.
Born in Brooklyn, David began his senior career at Gent in Belgium, scoring 37 goals in 83 games for De Buffalo's, before moving to LOSC Lille for €30 million in 2020.
With Les Dogues, he won a Ligue 1 title and a Trophée des Champions, scoring 84 goals in 183 appearances, scoring 26 goals in all competitions last season, while Lille finished fourth in Ligue 1 and reached the quarterfinals. UEFA Europa Conference League final.
With his contract expiring next summer, David is very likely to leave northern France during this summer. transfer window, with Inter Milan being the most linked in recent months.
However, Chelsea appear to have got ahead of their rivals after starting talks to sign David. Transfer market values the striker at £42m, so he should also be available for a reasonable fee.
Jonathan David will be on the move, but not yet
Jonathan David is a key player for his Canadian team, so any potential transfer will likely have to wait a week or two.
Since scoring a brace on debut against the US Virgin Islands in 2018, David has scored 26 goals in 48 international matches for the Reds, nine of which came in World Cup qualifying, when they ended their 36-year-old exile at the World Cup in Qatar.
This makes him Canada's second-leading scorer of all time, three behind strike partner Cyle Larin.
The two led the line together when the Canucks were defeated 2-0 by Argentina in the Copa America opener last Thursday, still must face Peru at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City on Tuesday and then Chile at Inter&Co Stadium from Orlando on Saturday. They firmly believe that they can reach the quarterfinals in their debut.
Chelsea in the market for a new striker
Striker is clearly an area that new coach Enzo Maresca is looking to strengthen, with Nicolas Jackson, Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana being his current senior options. Jacob Steinberg in The Guardian claims Chelsea are eager to sell Broja Evertonwhile Fofana's future is also uncertain, after a loan at Burnley.
Already this summer the 'bleus' tried to sign Jhon Duran of Aston Villawhile Adam Leventhal writes in The Athletic They would like to bring academy graduate Dominic Solanke back to Stamford Bridge, although his own £65million release clause means a move for the Bournemouth striker is unlikely to come to fruition.
