Sky Sports pundit urges Everton to hijack Arsenal move for ‘attainable’ Jonathan David in January
Lille forward Jonathan David has been linked to Arsenal according to football.london, but Kevin Kilbane thinks he’d be a much better fit at Everton.
The Gunners desperately need a new striker in January after being left without Jesus for months following his surgery. But they could be pipped to David’s signature by Everton if they don’t move fast.
Kilbane – who played for Everton for three seasons back in 2003 – was asked if he thinks David is a good fit for north London. It didn’t take him long to turn David’s attention towards Merseyside.
“I’ve seen a lot of him. I think he didn’t perform in the way he’s capable of playing at the World Cup. But there was talk 18 months ago of Arsenal, whether it was going to be Jesus or Jonathan David going in there. I don’t think he’s at that level, personally,” Kilbane told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Express.
“But if I’m looking at a club like Everton, I think he’s a player that can go on and make Everton better. He’s at the right age, he’s a player where I feel as though that he can get better as well, I think there’s more improvement to his game.
“So there’s certainly goals in him, we’ve seen that from him when he’s been playing for Lille, I’ve seen it with Canada. There’s a lot of ability but there’s a lot of development to come.
“I think he’s probably in that right bracket of player that Everton probably should be looking to sign. Certainly at a club like Everton anyway and I think he’s attainable for a club like them as well.”
Huge potential
David’s World Cup campaign didn’t quite go to plan with Canada, but it doesn’t take away from just how dangerous he is in front of goal.
At just 22, the New York-born striker has three years of experience in Belgium and France with Gent and Lille, where he’s scored over 60 professional goals already.
Everton are crying out for more goals in January, with only Wolves scoring less than the Toffees’ 11 in 15 Premier League games so far.
Neal Maupay is struggling to fill the void of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin can barely string together a run of games without picking up injury and Frank Lampard is then left short of serious options.
Bringing in David would give Lampard and Everton a regularly-available, experienced striker to rotate between in what is bound to be a hectic second half of the season.
If the club can pick him up for cheap from Lille then David could be an absolutely excellent piece of business by the club.