Milan on Jonathan David, the negotiations with Lille

One last piece is missing from the Rossoneri attack: Giroud is a guarantee of goals but in the final phase of his career; Leao starts from the left, Pulisic and Chukwueze from the right, Okafor goes everywhere waiting for a precise direction, Jovic is more lost than ever. Jonathan David can close the puzzle: he has characteristics that integrate him perfectly with the other pieces. The needs of the clubs may also fit together: Milan will try to invest in a striker as early as January, Lille will probably end up opening up to the sale. The millions guaranteed by the eighth Champions League would be useful to the Rossoneri coffers: almost ten in the UEFA prize and an equally significant sum from the box office. Lille also makes its calculations: it has already dropped from the initial valuation of 60 million. The player’s contract expiring in 2025 does not allow us to speculate on the price. And David’s championship this time doesn’t help: 2 goals in 12 appearances, recently on the bench against Monaco and Marseille. A performance far from that of last season, which ended with 24 goals in 37 appearances. Goals work like stocks on the stock market: in 2020 David was worth 30 million, a sum that Lille had paid to Gent for the top scorer of the Belgian Jupiler League. After his third season in France the price had doubled, now it has fallen again. It is unlikely that a club can satisfy a request of 40 million: with a further discount Milan could enter the scene immediately. For the second half of the seasons he needs a striker who promises new goals and a central defender who tries to avoid them.

safe investment

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David, 23 years old and Canadian national, has already proven his worth in Europe. In Belgium but above all in France: he was a co-protagonist in the 2020-21 championship victory, the other was in the opposite area (Maignan). With his goals in the qualifiers he dragged Canada to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He has the qualities and experience needed to complete the Rossoneri attack: Milan have been thinking about this for months now. A player who would arrive at the height of his career, another aspect to consider in order to consider it a good deal: in recent years, players who are too young (from André Silva to Lazetic) or already satisfied (from Higuain to Mandzukic to Origi) have shown up at Milanello ). Milan is aiming for low-risk investments that can further enhance the Rossoneri: Jonathan David would cost dearly but the goals would repay the expense.

engines

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The timing of the operation may also be right. Showing up at a new club in winter is different from doing so in summer: in January you have to warm up your engines immediately. In this case, however, Giroud has already started the work: for David there could be an initial apprenticeship period and only from next season have a permanent place in the area. The next championship matches could accelerate the striker market or allow the club to move without too much haste: with Giroud suspended for two matches (Fiorentina and Frosinone) Pioli has a double solution in mind. Okafor false nine, without the specific weight of Olivier. Or renew your trust in Jovic, hoping that it is finally well placed.