ARSENAL have been dealt a bitter blow after Gent striker Jonathan David revealed he wants to join Lille instead. The in-demand Canadian forward, 20, has been targeted by Mikel Arteta to replace wantaway Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer. But David has revealed he wants to join Lille, not Arsenal this summer – with the French giants […]
ARSENAL have been dealt a bitter blow after Gent striker Jonathan David revealed he wants to join Lille instead.
The in-demand Canadian forward, 20, has been targeted by Mikel Arteta to replace wantaway Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.
But David has revealed he wants to join Lille, not Arsenal this summer – with the French giants submitting a £23.5million bid.
Speaking to L’Equipe, David said: “Yes, I want to come to Lille.
“I have had a very good season. For me, my next step, is Ligue 1.
“And the footballing project at Lille is fantastic. They are a very good team in France.
“The Lille project interests me.
“I already speak French. That will help during my adaptation period.
“And Lille is very close to Gent geographically. So I will be able to concentrate on the pitch.”
However, Arsenal COULD still have a chance, with Gent standing firm on the £28million asking price.
David continued: “Talks are difficult. The club says they want to keep me or sell me for a price I don’t think is realistic when you take into account the Covid-19 situation.
“That is making negotiations complicated.
“In any case, I made it clear that I want to go to Lille.
“They said to me that they would not block me.
“At the start, things were going quicker. Now, everything has slowed, as if they are waiting for a better offer.
“I don’t know where that is supposed to come from.”
