The journalist who originally broke the ‘Paqueta to West Ham’ story, Ben Jacobs, has suggested that West Ham are among several clubs considering a move for Lille striker Jonathan David. Apparently, the price for his signature would be in the £25-£30 million range as his contract now has just 12 months remaining—Lille will surely try to maximize their income rather than allowing his value to diminish.
A very ‘West Ham’ asking price then: an attainable, exciting option for the future as an addition to West Ham’s forward line, possibly. Even better, at just 24 years old, he fits the bill as one to develop over the next few seasons as he comes into his prime.
We were keen on him last year, along with Juventus, but at that time there was a whopping £50 million price tag on his services. Ouch. No wonder it didn’t come together. Maybe there is a better chance of securing his undoubted prowess in front of goal this time around.
However, according to the same journalist, several other Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, and Spurs, are also on his trail. The allure of European football, which we cannot offer—at least this year—may sway his decision. Given the choice of the aforementioned clubs, I think I know where he is more likely to end up—however persuasive our Head Coach and Technical Director may be.
So, as more comments and stories develop regarding the Canadian who scored 26 times in 47 games for Lille last season, bear in mind we are probably not at the top of his list of preferred clubs to join if Lille decides to cash in: Spurs have apparently had him on their radar for at least a year, and Chelsea considered making an offer for him during Graham Potter’s tenure.