Jonathan David has put Arsenal on red alert as he has refused to rule out a move to the Premier League. The prolific Lille striker, whose contract expires in the summer, has been on fire in France, netting over 20 goals for three consecutive seasons and drawing attention from Europe's elite.
However, while speculation about a move to England is rife, David actually expressed a fondness for Spanish football as he was speaking to Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher on the It's Called Soccer! podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
"I grew up watching a lot of La Liga," he admitted. However, he left the door open to the Premier League, adding: "I wouldn't say that would be my preferred league, but it's a league I enjoyed watching more so [than others]. One day, I would like to play there. But will that happen? I don't know. I'm not opposed to anything. We'll see where the future takes us."
Despite Lille's efforts to tie down the Canadian star with a two-year extension, the talks seem to be stalling, leaving the door open for David to depart on a free transfer – a prospect that positions him as one of the hottest deals this summer.
Arsenal's quest for a new talisman upfront has been well documented and Mikel Arteta could find David an attractive proposition, especially given the forward's on-record admiration for Gunners legend Thierry Henry.
With other potential targets such as Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Benjamin Sesko likely to command fees in the £100million region, David could represent a savvy acquisition for the north Londoners, reports the Mirror.
Liverpool are also reportedly keeping tabs on David's situation. However, whether their interest materialises into a solid bid may hinge on possible departures, with potentially Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez leaving this summer.
Jonathan David on the It's Called Soccer! podcast alongside Rebecca Lowe, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher
Jonathan David on the It's Called Soccer! podcast alongside Rebecca Lowe, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher (Image: It's Called Soccer!)
Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham have also been linked with the player, but they're not considered leading contenders for his signature at this point, despite David's agent reportedly attending West Ham's match against Newcastle at the London Stadium last week.
Lille has been a breeding ground for some of Europe's top talents in recent years, including Eden Hazard, Victor Osimhen, Rafael Leao, Gabriel Magalhaes, Mike Maignan, Leny Yoro and Dimitri Payet.
David joined Lille from Belgian side Gent in 2020 and quickly made a name for himself as one of French football's finest goal scorers.
He netted 28 league goals in his first two seasons before scoring a career-best 24 in the 2022/23 season. Last season, he managed 26 across all competitions, and he's just four goals shy of surpassing that total this season.
Lille's Canadian forward #09 Jonathan David (L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the French L1 football match between Lille LOSC and FC Metz at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France on December 3, 2023. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP) (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)
Jonathan David hasn't ruled out a move to England (Image: Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images.)
Currently, Lille sit sixth in Ligue 1, only three points away from an automatic Champions League qualification spot. Earlier this month, they were knocked out of the European competition by Dortmund in the round of 16, matching their best-ever performance in the tournament.
David's strikes have been pivotal, as the Brooklyn native found the back of the net against the likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool, and Dortmund. Moreover, he has racked up an impressive 14 Ligue 1 goals – only Marseille's Mason Greenwood and PSG's Ousmane Dembele boast a higher tally.
Quizzed on whether he's currently producing some of the finest football of his career, David said: "I think you could say that. This might be my best campaign yet. It's been a great campaign."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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