Linked with some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs, Canadian starlet Jonathan David is opting to stay closer to his current club.
Gent playmaker David, 20, had been linked with Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal with reports saying his agent was targeting a club somewhere between the quality of the Belgian top-flight and the UEFA superpowers, with Lazio, Porto, Ajax, Lyon, Everton, and Leicester City in that group.
If the reports are true, his agent is getting his way with David agreeing to terms with Ligue 1’s Lille, who are in the Europa League next year following a fourth place finish in France.
RMC reporter Mohamed Bouhafsi reports that Lille has offered $28 million to Gent, who would like to get $34 million. Seems like a bridge that can be crossed.
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It takes little more than an hour to drive from Gent to Lille.
The move could signal changes for Lille, who has a bevy of young attackers including American forward Timothy Weah, ex-Chelsea man Loic Remy, transfer rumor mill mainstay Victor Osimhen, and French youth international Jonathan Bamba amongst others.
David’s 18 goals tied for the Belgian league high with ex-Hull and Norwich man Dieumerci Mbokani, and scored five more goals in the Europa League including markers versus Saint-Etienne and Roma.
He has 37 goals and 15 assists in three seasons with the Belgian powers.
The Brooklyn-born David also has 11 goals in 12 caps for Canada, though those admittedly came against some of the minnows of CONCACAF.
Jonathan #David ( la Gantoise ) has agreed personal terms with #Lille ahead of a transfer move.
— Mohamed Bouhafsi (@mohamedbouhafsi) July 7, 2020
Clubs are yet to agree a fee.
Info @RMCsport : Jonathan #David a donné son accord au #Losc. Les 2 parties ont ficelé les contours du contrat. Le #Losc a transmis sa 1ère offre avoisinant 25M€ bonus compris. La Gantoise espère au moins 30M€ pour le milieu offensif canadien.
— Mohamed Bouhafsi (@mohamedbouhafsi) July 7, 2020
