The agent of Lille forward Jonathan David has confirmed that the Canadian will leave the French club at the end of the season.
Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham have been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old, who is currently the top goalscorer in Ligue One.
Having been burned before by Lille, after paying a club-record fee for Nicolas Pepe, supporters on Twitter have been discussing whether going after David is worth the risk:
Let’s gooo. He is a beast. Fast, strong, and a really good finisher.
— mohoyo01 (@mohoyo01) December 23, 2021
Very good player, I’d love him, but don’t pay £72m again, we can’t have another Pepe situation. Also why are Lille out feeder club now😂😂 not complaining Gabriel is one of the best cb in the league
— MadeInHaleEnd (@MartisakaFc) December 23, 2021
another Pepe, stay away please
— MWALIMU WA WAALIMU💼📒🖋 (@kidimajk5) December 23, 2021
Does Arsenal really need any more players from Lille?
— Ed xxxxxxx (Redacted) (@edlewusa) December 23, 2021
Good buy if it’s below 50 mil, transfermarkt rates him at 45 mil so go for it
— Ds Prashanth (@DsRyanstudent5) December 23, 2021
smells of Chamakh to me im super nervous when we sign top scorer in ligue 1
— PoliticalFootyFan1980 (@PFan1980) December 23, 2021
And what about your best defender
— . (@Greggs_FPL) December 23, 2021
Sign him and get him during the January transfer window
— Derick Bruno (@DerickBruno9) December 23, 2021
Didn’t we learn with Givinho and Pepe? Not another player from ligue 1
— frank_Matthews – Lesupa (@bonilebone) December 23, 2021
There are a number of factors that have to be taken into account before the Gunners decide to go after David. Firstly, does he have the characteristics to play in the Premier League?
As fans have found out with Pepe, players are not always able to make the step up and it is a gamble that the club would have to take again. Secondly, does he have the potential to become even better?
David’s goalscoring numbers are pretty impressive, but he is, by no means, the finished article. Clubs like Liverpool, in particular, are able to find unpolished gems and turn them into world stars. Could Arteta do the same with the Canadian international?
Finally, would he be worth the outlay? After wasting £72m on Pepe, Arsenal will be warier of spending sizeable sums on unproven talent. David’s asking price is said to be around the £42m mark so we shall see if the club deem it a reasonable figure.
