Chelsea now express strong interest in signing £31k-p/w "phenomenon" striker

Chelsea have now expressed strong interest in signing a striker who’s already scored 22 goals this season, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Maresca short on striker options

Enzo Maresca has found himself limited on options at striker this season, with Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu both currently sidelined, while Christopher Nkunku hasn’t exactly pulled up any trees, receiving heavy criticism at times from members of the media.

As such, Pedro Neto has been given the nod at striker in recent weeks, and the Portuguese forward was praised for his performance against Leicester City on Sunday, being lauded for the “incredible effort” he put in to help the Blues to a 1-0 victory.

However, given that Neto is not an out-and-out striker, Maresca may still be keen to bring in a fresh face this summer, and a report from Spain has revealed Lille’s Jonathan David is Chelsea’s ‘great desire’, indicating they hold a strong interest in the Canadian.

David’s form this season means he is a target for five Premier League clubs in the summer, at which point his Lille contract is set to expire, meaning he will be available on a free transfer.

The 25-year-old’s arrival in the Premier League is described as imminent, given the widespread interest in his signature, but his destination remains undecided for now, with talks set to commence in the coming weeks.

Related

Chelsea now planning to submit £50m offer for “spectacular” midfielder

The Blues are set to make a bid for a 20-year-old, who is now considered one of their key targets.

“Phenomenon” David is having an incredible season

The Brooklyn-born striker has been impressive in Ligue 1 for quite some time, most importantly bagging 13 league goals in the 2020-21 campaign to help fire Lille to a surprise league title triumph.

However, this season could end up being the Canada international’s best to date, given that he has already scored 22 in all competitions, with six goals and two assists to his name in nine Champions League outings.

There are signs the £31k-per-week forward could be entering his prime, which means it could be the perfect time for Chelsea to pursue a move, and it is an added bonus that he is set to be available on a free transfer.

Former Gent manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck has lauded David as a “phenomenon” in the past, and his performances for Lille over a number of years indicate he could be the solution to Chelsea’s striker problems.