The Jonathan David saga is officially over for West Ham United after three years of speculation but the striker has a message for fans about the club under Graham Potter.
There is something about West Ham and transfers turning into long, drawn-out soap operas.
The Lille and Canada forward Jonathan David is the latest in a long line of Hammers transfer sagas.
West Ham’s interest in David dates all the way back to 2021.
The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to the London Stadium in every single window since.
In the early days the question was whether David was good enough for West Ham.
It was even claimed earlier this year that David Moyes rejected the chance to bring David to West Ham for just £20m in the summer of 2023.
Jonathan David saga now officially over for West Ham
As his goalscoring exploits helped take Lille to new heights and showed no signs of letting up, the tables turned.
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Suddenly West Ham wanted David but so did half of Europe as he extended his record for club and country to 178 goals in 376 appearances.
David’s availability on a free transfer this summer was hugely attractive but at the same time detrimental for the Hammers.
Some of the top clubs in Europe have been chasing the diminutive and versatile star.
Meanwhile West Ham endured one of their worst seasons for years and have no European football to offer a player who stated he must be playing in the Champions League.
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
West Ham persisted, though, reportedly hosting his agents at the London Stadium and doing their best to convince David to be the man to lead Graham Potter’s Hammers revolution.
As soon as he arrived at the club in January, it was reported Potter asked West Ham’s owners to bring him Lille free agent duo David and Angel Gomes in the summer.
Hammers News revealed months ago there was no chance of West Ham being able to sign David with most of Europe’s elite in for him.
Now David has officially rejected West Ham but he has a message for the club’s fans about project Potter.
It is fair to say a number of Hammers supporters remain unconvinced about their new manager.
David has a message for West Ham fans about project Potter
West Ham won just five of Potter’s 19 games in charge, a worse record than his predecessor Julen Lopetegui.
It meant the Englishman ended the campaign with the worst West Ham win ratio since the hapless Avram Grant took the club down.
The Premier League is expected to be much more competitive next season with Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland coming up.
There are very real concerns among some fans that West Ham could find themselves in trouble, especially if they don’t get things right in this most crucial of summer windows.
But now sceptical supporters have received reassurance from the man who has rejected them.
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
David looks set to join Serie A champions Napoli – although Juventus are making a late run at him too.
As his next destination becomes increasingly clear, David has given everyone at West Ham hope.
The i Paper journalist Pete Hall has been right across the Europe-wide race for David’s signature.
He has confirmed Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham all made official offers to the Canadian striker.
Hall reports that David explained his reasoning to the various suitors as to why he was rejecting them in favour of Italy.
Essentially he wanted to be guaranteed game time while playing Champions League football.
For example, David made it clear he didn’t like the fact Chelsea already had so many attackers and felt it would be the wrong move for that reason.
David impressed by Potter’s plans for West Ham
West Ham, though, were different.
Because while a lack of European football was clearly always a deal-breaker, it was the Hammers who Hall says were singled out by the striker and his entourage.
In officially rejecting a move to east London, David’s camp let it be known they were very impressed by what Potter is planning for West Ham.
Given the Hammers have been chasing David longer than any other club, it seems the player and his representatives wanted that to be communicated to West Ham and their fans.
It is certainly hugely encouraging for supporters to hear. Potter and the club would have laid out the vision for his project to David.
So the striker and his agents are better placed than most to know what Potter is planning.
And we might already be seeing what David is alluding to.
Because it comes on the same day West Ham have agreed terms for a second exciting signing ahead of the official opening of the summer transfer window.