Former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch says he would have loved to have signed Canada international Jonathan David during his time at Elland Road.
The American coach spent just under a year at the Whites after replacing Marcelo Bielsa in the dugout with Leeds struggling at the bottom end of the Premier League.
Marsch helped keep Leeds in the top flight during the 2021-22 campaign, winning 2-1 away at Brentford on the last day of the season to survive, becoming the first team since 2011 to start the final game of the season in the bottom three and stay up.
Despite a number of new signings, the Whites struggled following the departures of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha. Marsch was sacked in February 2023 with Leeds battling at the foot of the table, and the club was 17th in the table at the time of his departure.
Javi Gracia would replace Marsch before his ill-fated short stint at the club saw him replaced by Sam Allardyce for the final four games of the season. However, it was too little too late, and the former England boss was unable to keep the Whites in the top flight.
Marsch, who is now head coach of the Canadian national team, claims he would have wanted to sign David at Leeds United after being impressed by him on international duty. The 25-year-old striker has just left Ligue 1 side Lille as a free agent and signed for Serie A club Juventus.
A number of Europe's top clubs were reportedly keen on his signature this summer after scoring 25 goals and notching 12 assists last season.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Marsch said: "David is a 9, but also a 9 and a half, a 10 or an outside striker. With us, in Canada, he plays as a second striker or as a 10 with a centre forward nearby. And he scores a lot of goals just the same.
"When I was coaching Leeds, I would have wanted David with me in the Premier League. But now, coaching him in the national team, I have realised that he is stronger than I imagined."
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