‘Newcastle to miss out on Jonathan David despite extensive scouting missions’
Jonathan David may have been followed repeatedly in recent months by Newcastle but the sought-after striker isn’t thought to be headed to St. James’ Park.
The 25-year-old has been in prolific form for Lille over the past five years, but his contract with the French club will expire at the end of the season.
He could therefore be a bargain signing on a free transfer, and Newcastle had been tipped to make an offer to sign David ahead of next season.
Even so it appears the Magpies are set to be left disappointed with their attempts to sign the Canadian international.
Jonathan David set to head elsewhere
According to the latest update from The Telegraph, the striker has indeed been heavily scouted by Eddie Howe‘s side over recent months.
Despite that, it is said that a move to Newcastle appears unlikely for the 25-year-old, who is instead expected to move elsewhere as a free agent.
The Magpies are not the only Premier League side to have been linked with the Canadian international ahead of the summer transfer window.
| Jonathan David key 2024/25 stats | Total (as per Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 45 |
| Goals | 25 |
| Assists | 11 |
| Yellow Cards | 6 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
Title-winners-to-be Liverpool are another club who have been tipped to make a move for David, as they look to boost their options at centre-forward.
Since joining Lille from Gent in the summer of 2020, the striker has scored a total of 109 goals in 228 appearances for the club, helping them to the Ligue 1 title in his first season with the club.
Even if the Magpies miss out on David, a new striker looks to be on the agenda at St James’ Park this summer, with Newcastle also understood to be interested in Ipswich striker Liam Delap.
Newcastle United to be frustrated over striker transfer update
Football Insider Verdict
It appears Newcastle are adamant that talisman and top scorer Alexander Isak will not be sold in the summer transfer window.
Even so missing out on David will still feel like something of a blow for those in charge of transfer business at St James’ Park.
Callum Wilson has struggled for goals and is out of contract in the summer, so alternative competition and cover for Isak is surely needed.
David’s scoring record for Lille shows he could fill that role well, and on a free transfer he would have been a bargain for Newcastle as well.
With the club needing to do other business as well, completing that signing would have been useful for a number of reason.
That now means the Magpies look to be under pressure to secure the signing of an alternative centre-forward such as Delap.