If West Ham United have become something of a graveyard for the reputations of talented forwards, then LOSC Lille are just about the polar opposite.
Sebastien Haller, Gianluca Scamacca, Danny Ings, now Niclas Fullkrug…
The list of strikers who arrived at West Ham United amid considerable expectations before playing like an offensive parody of their former selves is bordering on endless.
Lille, in contrast, remain one of European football’s most respected finishing schools; pumping out PhD attackers, one graduation at a time. Rafael Leao, Nicolas Pepe, Eden Hazard, Divock Origi and Gervinho. All secured big-money moves to top clubs after leading French defenders in a merry dance across the Channel.
Of the current crop, Belgian starlet Matias Fernandez-Pardo and the Arjen Robben-impersonating Edon Zhegrova may be the latest to swell the Lille coffers.
And while Hammers News understands that Jonathan David has little interest in joining West Ham this summer, a move to Serie A champions Napoli is very-well deserved after the cold-blooded Canadian broke the 25-goal barrier for a third season in succession.
Though David has a long old trek ahead of him if he is to reach the same fearsome heights as Victor Osimhen over in Italy. Osimhen is another world-leading forward who honed his considerable goalscoring talents at Lille.
A path also taken by David, and one former West Ham starlet Divin Mubama may also find himself walking before long.
Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Manchester City’s former West Ham starlet Divin Mubama could join Lille
Victor Osimhen spent only one season at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, plucked from Sporting Charleroi in Belgium for a bargain £10 million. Just two years later, the spring-heeled Nigerian became the first player to fire Napoli to Scudetto glory since the legendary Diego Maradona.
Now, loaned out to Galatasaray following a dramatic breakdown in relations between player and club, Jonathan David is the man handpicked to succeed Osimhen as Napoli’s number nine.
A fitting replacement, at that.
As for the man tasked with filling David’s shoes on French soil, Fabrizio Romano reports that Lille have set their sights on the aforementioned Mubama. Also on Ipswich Town’s radar, Mubama is expected to cost a similar fee to the one Lille paid for a hitherto little-known Osimhen six years ago.
🚨🚜 EXCL: Ipswich are considering Divin Mubama with initial request to Manchester City for terms.
Manchester City position over transfer is £10m valuation… while there’s serious interest also from Lille. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/E8Vkc6knJz
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 29, 2025
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Divin Mubama swapped West Ham for Manchester City after failing to agree terms on a new contract last summer. Producing more than a goal-a-game at Premier League 2 level, his prolific finishing proved easily translatable from London to England’s north west.
Man City could sell Mubama before his full Premier League debut under Pep Guardiola
If reports are to be believed, however, Man City do not see Mubama as a genuine first-team option.
The opportunity to make a £10 million profit on a homegrown player – lucrative business, in this PSR world – is one that will appeal greatly if City view the England Under-20 international as nothing more than an asset to be flipped for a quick buck.
Photo by Fran Santiago - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Photo by Fran Santiago – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
In truth, who knows whether Divin Mubama would eventually have been the free-scoring shaman capable of casting out that striker ‘curse’ at West Ham.
If his next step turns out to be Ligue 1 and LOSC Lille, though, recent history certainly offers a good omen for a bright future.