Tottenham have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Jonathan David after Lille reportedly reduced the Canadian striker’s asking price.
The 23-year-old has tallied 62 goals and 11 assists in 154 appearances for the Ligue 1 club. However, he has had a slow start to the 2023/24 season, managing to score four goals in 18 matches so far.
David has been a consistent target for a move to the Premier League in recent years, with links to Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham, Manchester United, and Tottenham. AC Milan has also shown interest in the Canadian international.
In December 2021, David’s agent indicated a desire to leave Lille in the following summer transfer window, expressing interest in playing in the Premier League as well as in Spain due to the technical style of play in those leagues.
There is a clear intention to play in England, and Tottenham will be encouraged by the news of Lille reducing their asking price ahead of the January transfer window. With David’s contract expiring in 2025, Lille is likely keen to secure a transfer during the 2024 windows.
According to il Gazzetta dello Sport, Lille is now seeking €40million (£34.7million) for their striker, down from their previous demand of €60 million (£52.1million).
Although the main focus of the story is on Milan’s interest in the player, it is evident that Lille’s move to reduce the asking price may create a bidding war, with both Tottenham and Milan aiming to secure the talented forward.
The report implies that David could be a pivotal addition for Milan, especially with Olivier Giroud approaching the later stages of his career. This means Tottenham may engage in competition with the Serie A giants, who have reportedly been considering David for several months.
A new striker is seen as a top priority for the Spurs after the departure of Harry Kane in the summer transfer window. Richarlison, who was signed for £50 million from Everton in 2022, has struggled to find his goal-scoring form, making it difficult for him to secure a consistent starting position in the team.
Considering West Ham, the club could also be a suitable destination for David, especially after David Moyes allowed Gianluca Scamacca to return to Italy following a single season in the Premier League. Additionally, the recent knee injury picked up by Michail Antonio while representing Jamaica could prompt the Hammers to seek a new No. 9.
During the international break, David represented Canada, scoring in their 2-1 Nations League victory against Jamaica and also featuring in a 3-2 loss in Toronto.