With European football guaranteed to return to Tyneside next season, Newcastle will need to be very ambitious and active in the upcoming summer transfer market for a chance of more major silverware.
One such player, linked with Newcastle for much of the past few months, has now revealed more about the likelihood of a move to the Premier League at the end of the season.
If Newcastle were to complete the signing of this forward, it would be a true statement signing and considered a massive coup when compared to the clubs Newcastle are competing for his signature.
The latest on Jonathan David
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Lille striker Jonathan David has lit up the French league and continental football this season, ahead of a career-defining summer for the Canadian.
With 23 goals and 10 assists in 41 games across all competitions, David is set to depart _Les Dogues_ once his contract expires at the end of the campaign.
Widespread reports have confirmed our interest in an end-of-season deal, with Craig Hope (The Mail), Luke Edwards (The Telegraph) and The Athletic all confirming our interest after several scouting trips from chief scout Steve Nickson.
However, perhaps unfortunately for Newcastle and a number of other Premier League clubs, David may have already made up his mind on his next club.
**“That would be my preferred league”**
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In an interview with the ‘It’s called soccer’ podcast, David revealed his preferred move away from the French league, with the Canadian having his eyes set on one league in particular.
“I think I can adapt to every league. Every league has its differences. The Premier League is a lot faster and more physical than all of the other leagues.”
“For me, I grew up watching a lot of La Liga and for me, that would be my preferred league. That is the league that I enjoyed watching the most so one day I would like to play there.”
Having previously expressed a strong desire to play for Barcelona, the podcast deals a blow to the likes of Newcastle, Manchester United and West Ham who may have been looking to poach the player this summer.
Any other free agents?
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With David no doubt shooting to the top of the hottest free agents list come May, it’s no wonder why clubs are particularly interested in the striker in the current PSR-affected market.
But besides David, who else could Newcastle possibly look at?
How about his Lille teammate Angel Gomes? It’s been reported the England international has rejected a £100,000 per week move to Graham Potter’s West Ham, where the prospect of European football could sway a player of Gomes’ calibre.
Fitting with Paul Mitchell’s vision of prioritising younger players from abroad with European experience, Copenhagen’s 19-year-old winger Roony Bardghji may also be an option to bolster the attack.