Chelsea could have their perfect striker incoming handed to them after Lille's manager Paulo Fonseca admitted Jonathan David could leave. The Canadian striker has been a long-term target for several Premier League sides including Chelsea and has previously explained his admiration for the league.
After third-choice striker Armando Broja was ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Graham Potter has been handed a dilemma heading into January with 33-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz the only two senior players for the centre-forward slot.
The Blues had already been expected to have a busy winter window with extra reinforcements needed across the pitch, but Broja's knock has left a new hole.
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One of their best recent additions was Olivier Giroud in January 2018 but less short-term options are wanted to fill out the squad, meaning a specific type of player is needed but they aren't always available. Lille's David fits the bill but would be an expensive option midway through the season.
However, heading into the New Year his coach is in no uncertain terms that keeping hold of the 22-year-old will be far from simple. Speaking to La Voix des Sports, Fonseca admitted: "It will be difficult to keep Jonathan David at the club next season. There are not many strikers with his skills and numbers in Europe… he’s just 22."
With nine goals and three assists in 15 Ligue 1 games David is proving to be one of the most exciting forwards around. It's the sort of young, hungry and promising player that Todd Boehly is determined to bring in to Stamford Bridge, and they could be in the mix. According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, Graham Potter is a big fan of David and he could be available in January.
"I think top European clubs will try to sign Jonathan David," Fonesca himself added. Having previously been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United for over £45million Chelsea may well be eyeing up the impressive attacker in order to bolster their options. It would be a longer-term incoming than Cristiano Ronaldo, who has also been named as a player that could come in to a job over the next six months.
The Portuguese forward could be available for free but would command a massive wage commitment that Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr are reportedly willing to accept.
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