Add as preferred source on Google
The eternally West Ham United-linked Jonathan David appears destined to leave Juventus after just one season of Serie A football.
And, surprise surprise, the Hammers are once again being dragged into the situation.
Who knows? Perhaps there is some truth to reports of West Ham United’s interest in the Canadian penalty-specialist.
West Ham could FINALLY sign Jonathan David! 💰
The Juventus striker will be available this summer…
Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images
Italian publication Tuttosport today double down on a potential move to the London Stadium for Jonathan David, throwing Nuno Espirito Santo’s side into the mix alongside Nottingham Forest, Marseille and Lyon.
Juventus want around £25m for West Ham United-linked Jonathan David
Juventus reportedly hope to cut their losses on David after one underwhelming season in Italy’s top flight.
As Tuttosport point out, however, the finances involved may make a deal difficult to come by.
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
The publication claims that, while David’s departure is ‘becoming more and more concrete by the week’, Juventus are likely to demand a fee in the region of £25 million.
Not bad business at all, considering the Bianconeri signed David on a free transfer when his Lille contract expired less than 12 months ago.
The Montreal-born 26-year-old earns £100,000-a-week, though. After tax, too. While West Ham are desperate to get AC Milan loanee Niclas Fullkrug out the door, David would be another high-earning centre-forward eating up a sizeable chunk of the Hammers’ wage bill.
Hammers News were told that West Ham made an offer to David last summer, before he became a free agent. The former Gent hitman had little interest in such a proposal. One suspects he will be much more open to similar offers this time around, with that underwhelming Juventus spell seeing his long-awaited chance at a genuine A-list European club slip away.
Difficult to work out if David suits Nuno Espirito Santo’s system
David has scored only five goals in 14 Serie A starts. Tellingly, head coach Luciano Spalletti left him on the bench when Juve were crying out for a winner during the 1-1 draw against Sassuolo before the international break.
What advice would you give to profligate Pablo? ⛔
How can he save his West Ham career?
West Ham legend Paolo di Canio has been critical of David’s impact – or a lack thereof – while Spalletti puts his struggles down to the fact he is simply ill-suited to Juventus’ system. David, Spalletti feels, is someone who needs space to run into, rather than playing with his back to goal against low-block opposition.
A move to East London might just suit him, then. Nuno Espirito Santo likes to play a counter-attacking style. On the other hand, centre-forwards in Nuno’s teams are often required to do the unselfish stuff, like holding off defenders and opening up spaces for their fleet-footed wingers. See Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest and Raul Jimenez at Wolves.
David would be a risk. A £25 million, £100,000-a-week risk at that.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox