A host of top Premier League clubs could miss out on one of their top transfer targets this summer, with Napoli and Juventus set to battle it out for in-demand Jonathan David’s signature.
The i Paper understands Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham have all enquired about securing the Canadian striker’s capture on a free transfer.
David will leave Lille when his contract runs out this summer.
All six remain keen, but Serie A champions Napoli have moved to the front of the queue having made David’s representatives a concrete offer. Juventus entered the race late to start what one source said would be a “bidding war” between the two Italian giants to sign the 25-year-old’.
It is not too late for a Premier League club to make a late move, but the player is not necessarily solely focused on sealing a move to England this stage of his career, having previously expressed a desire to play elsewhere in Europe. Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan have also previously declared an interest.
David has spent five prolific years in France with Lille, where he has continually plundered goals in Ligue 1 season after season. This term, David finished fourth in the French top-flight goalscoring charts.
The Canada international announced his decision to leave before the club’s final match of the season, with sources claiming David believes he has gone far enough in France and is ready for a move to another top European league.
Tottenham did try to sign David in January, but he elected to see out his contract with Lille and then assess the options available to him in the summer.
Newcastle are similarly keen to bring David in to provide cover for Alexander Isak. Callum Wilson is set to leave, with David’s versatility especially appealing to a side short of options across the entire frontline.
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The player’s camp are understood to have been impressed by what Graham Potter is planning for West Ham, but London rivals Chelsea are less appealing, given the number of forwards already on the books.
Liverpool have since moved their focus onto other strike targets, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike their current top pick in the central striker role.
United’s interest was more tentative, with David not the profile of striker Ruben Amorim is looking for as he attempts to transform the club’s fortunes. A late change of heart cannot be ruled out, however, after Ipswich’s Liam Delap snubbed Ineos’ project in favour of a move to Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho nears an Old Trafford exit.
Should Napoli get that deal over the line, they could be in for an impressive start to the summer transfer window, with Garnacho their other top target they are looking to capture quickly.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Georgiy Sudakov, another linked with several Premier League clubs including Manchester City, Spurs and Bournemouth, could also make the move to Naples in the coming months.
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