According to sources, Arsenal is poised to compete with several teams, notably Newcastle United and Liverpool, for the services of Lille star Jonathan David.
Arsenal is seriously contemplating signing the center-forward, aiming to add a top goalscorer in 2025, as reported by Football Insider. However, the Gunners will face stiff competition from various other clubs to secure his signature.
The formidable Serie A trio of AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus has also joined the pursuit for David.
The source indicates there will be a “huge clamour” to sign the 24-year-old due to his low cost.
David’s contract with Lille expires in the summer of 2020, meaning he can either sign a budget-friendly deal in January or leave for free at that time.
It is believed Lille would be inclined to sell this winter to avoid losing their star striker for nothing, with a bid of just €25 million (£21 million / US$27.6 million).
Arsenal will face competition for David not only from the top Italian teams but also from several Premier League clubs, including Newcastle and Liverpool.
Italian media reported on Tuesday that Liverpool is leading the race for the Canadian, having negotiated a lucrative five-and-a-half-year contract worth €5 million (£80,000 per week).
Additionally, on September 25, it was revealed that Newcastle had started talks to reach a pre-contract agreement with David’s representatives.
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also potential suitors for David. Manchester United signed Joshua Zirkzee in the summer, but they might still be interested in a prolific attacker like David. Meanwhile, Tottenham is less likely to pursue David after breaking their transfer record to acquire Dominic Solanke.
Given that David has had a stellar start to the new season, it’s no surprise that numerous teams are eager to sign him.
After 12 matches across all competitions, he has recorded eight goals and two assists. This includes the winning goal as Lille stunned Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Just before halftime, David gave Lille the lead after hitting the crossbar in the 25th minute. A handball by Eduardo Camavinga allowed Lille a penalty, which David converted, sending goalkeeper Andriy Lunin the wrong way.
David’s penalty was the decisive kick on a memorable night for Lille, as Madrid had chances to equalize but failed to convert.
David’s profile will only rise as he prepares to potentially join one of Europe’s top football clubs next year.
Journalist Henry Winter has praised Arsenal for their “swagger” and noted their strong home performances against leading European teams.
Following a 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Winter highlighted several of Arsenal’s standout players, including Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Kai Havertz.
Emmanuel Petit has even claimed that Mikel Arteta surpasses legendary Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger in one regard.
While Arsenal thrives, some lesser-known players have struggled for minutes. According to TBR Football, defender Jakub Kiwior is ‘expected’ to leave the Emirates next year due to limited playing time.
With Kieran Tierney also available for transfer, Arsenal is actively seeking potential replacements at left-back. Players on Edu’s radar include Miguel Gutierrez (Girona), Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia), Nathan Zeze (Nantes), and Vitor Reis (Palmeiras).