Lille forward Jonathan David says he intends to play in the Premier League at some point in his career amidst links with Chelsea.
The Canada international, 22, has caught the eye of big clubs in England and across Europe following his impressive performances with Ligue 1 club Lille. He has enjoyed an excellent start to the season with nine goals and three assists in 15 Ligue 1 appearances and featured thrice for Canada at the recently concluded World Cup, although the forward failed to find the back of the net.
Jonathan David, who has scored 41 goals in 111 appearances for Lille, has admitted that playing in the Premier League holds the biggest appeal to him if does indeed end up leaving the French club in 2023.
“In England, when I watch the matches, everything is full each time. As a player, it motivates you even more,” David told French outlet La Voic du Nord.
“I don’t know, I think it’s possible, very possible. I don’t know if I can find myself anywhere other than the Premier League. It could well be the Premier League. It’s a very nice atmosphere.”
Chelsea and Manchester United have shown interest in David in the past but Lille are under no pressure to sell the Canadian forward just yet as he has a contract until 2025.
Jonathan David to Chelsea—Should the Blues make a move?
After a poor first part of the season, Chelsea have already been active in the transfer market heading into the January window.
An agreement is already in place for Christopher Nkunku to join next year from RB Leipzig, while David Datro Fofana has completed his medical after the Pensioners agreed to a £8.6m fee with Molde FK for the striker. Vasco da Gama’s highly-rated teen Andrey Santos is reportedly next in the line to arrive at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea continue their exciting project of signing young and hungry talents under Graham Potter.
Jonathan David is certainly one of the most promising young talents in Ligue 1 football, having done incredibly well since joining Lille in 2020. He has been in red-hot goalscoring form this season and could prove to be a quality acquisition for a club like Chelsea.
The Blues could certainly benefit from someone like David in their ranks, especially following the poor returns of summer signings Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Graham Potter’s side are eighth in the table and must improve their productivity in front of goal in order to achieve a top-four finish this season.
David is an exciting young striker who has shown his ability to score goals of all kinds with Lille. He can also operate as a second striker or in the hole behind the No.9, which could be viewed as promising for a manager like Potter who wants his team to be flexible in attack.
The Canadian is only 22 and is only going to get better with age, coaching and experience. He has the potential to develop into a top goal-scorer and a manager like Potter, who has been brought to Chelsea with a reputation for nurturing young talent, could help him massively.
As David has recently admitted his desire to play in the Premier League, Chelsea must not waste much time and look to make a January swoop for the Lille star.