Mikel Arteta has been sent a reminder by a transfer target who Arsenal seemed to cool their interest in. Jonathan David had an excellent performance for his side in his last away game of the season as he prepares to move clubs in the summer transfer window.
The Canadian international scored a brace against Nice, as Lille came out 3-1 winners in Ligue 1, which put them tenth in the French first division. David has lost his good form recently, which explains the loss of interest by Arsenal.
However, with him reportedly costing the same amount as Gabriel Jesus, which is around the £47m mark, and still being three years younger, he has sent a reminder to Arteta that he could be a better option than the Brazilian.
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According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are preparing the opening bid for Jesus. Manchester City want around £50m to sell the forward, even if his current deal won’t be extended
Alongside the interest in Jesus, the Gunners have been heavily linked to David since the start of the campaign. Edu is looking to end the striker shortage that currently looks like the only reason why the club may fail to secure a top-four finish. football.london understands the Gunners are looking to bring in two strikers this summer, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already gone and Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah likely to follow in the summer.
Arsenal are long-term admirers of David. Their interest in him dates back to his time in Belgium with Gent before he joined Lille in 2020.
The youngster will be available for a transfer in the summer, and reportedly for a £47m transfer fee. Speaking to Radio Canada, David’s agent Nick Mavromaras said: "For us, the objective is to finish the season in Lille, but it will be his last season there for several reasons."
David has been performing excellently this season in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League. He played a pivotal part in the club's European knockout stage progression before eventually being knocked out by Chelsea in the round of 16.
The Canadian striker’s exploits at club and international level in terms of being able to lead his teams to surprising success could certainly be appealing to Arteta. Especially with the £47million price tag for him which could prove to be a bargain.
However, it seems that the Gunners will have to choose between him or Jesus due to the similarity in their price tag. Despite Arteta seeming to prefer Jesus, David has sent a reminder why he should also be considered for a move.
