GdS: 'David with a discount' - Milan's strategy and why they believe he is a perfect fit

You can tell that today is a day ending in ‘y’ because La Gazzetta dello Sport have published an article about AC Milan’s interest in signing Jonathan David from Lille.

The paper (as seen in the photo at the bottom) writes that the Milan management believe David is the striker who is the missing piece of the attacking puzzle. They are convinced he has the characteristics that will allow him to integrate perfectly, and an attempt is being lined up.

Milan will try to invest in a striker as early as January, and Lille will probably end up opening up to a sale. Reaching the Champions League last 16 would provide a bit of extra money for Geoffrey Moncada and co. to work with, while Lille’s asking price has dropped.

The forward’s contract is expiring in 2025 he has just 2 goals in 12 appearances this season, even starting recent games against Monaco and Marseille on the bench. It is a performance level far from that of last season, which ended with 24 goals in 37 appearances (in Ligue 1).

In 2020 David was worth €30m, i.e. the 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 any club will satisfy the €40m demands, but with a further discount Milan could enter the scene immediately. For the second half of the season the Rossoneri need a striker who can provide goals and a central defender who will keep them out.

At 23 years of age, David has already proven his worth in Europe. Milan believe he has the qualities and experience needed to complete the attack and have thought so for months now, aware that investing in a clearly talented player while his value is in a ‘dip’ could pay off in a big way.

Indeed, the club are aiming for low-risk investments that can further enhance the squad, which is why timing of the David operation could also be right. The idea would be to give him six months as an ‘initial apprenticeship’ and then he would be the starter in 2024-25 onwards.