Views: 3
‘No pressure to sell’ – Lille send Jonathan David warning to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Lille president Olivier Letang has sent a warning to Europe’s elite clubs and stated that Jonathan David won’t be sold in January.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Jonathan David’s future at Lille has become a subject of intense speculation in recent months as the Canadian striker is yet to extend his contract that expires on June 30, 2025. His situation has piqued the interest of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but Lille president Olivier Letang revealed that they are “under no pressure” to sell the player, having already offered him a new proposal.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
David has earned a reputation as one of the finest strikers in Europe’s top five leagues. The 24-year-old has scored 97 goals in 202 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants. His displays alone have caught the attention of the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Juventus.
The Bianconeri are keen on bringing David to the Allianz Stadium in January owing to Arkadiusz Milik’s injury issues, which has left the club with only Dusan Vlahovic as a natural No. 9. Meanwhile, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane, respectively, leading the attack. Both players are on the wrong side of their thirties and the clubs see David as a long-term successor.
WHAT LILLE PRESIDENT SAID
“We are counting on the strength of the group, we are very happy to have him with us,” Letang stated during an interview with RMC (h/t Calciomercato).
“This summer he had one year left on his contract, but we were under no pressure to sell him, also because no suitable offers arrived. We have already offered him a renewal, and now the decision is up to him. Jonathan loves the club and Lille is his home.”
WHAT NEXT FOR JONATHAN DAVID?
If David doesn’t sign an extension with Lille before January, clubs can enter in negotiations with the forward over a free transfer in the summer. Before that happens, though, David will be focusing on his team’s next outing, which is against Rennes on Sunday, November 24.
(goal)