Despite both players being available on free transfers this summer, it has gone somewhat quiet surrounding West Ham United and the forever Premier League-linked Lille duo Jonathan David and Angel Gomes.
But there is a good reason for that. Updates have been in short supply over recent weeks because, well, there are no updates. Not really.
Jonathan David confirmed his departure from Lille earlier this month. After breaking the 25-goal barrier for a third straight season and joining Ligue 1’s ‘hundred club’, the New York-born Canada international will enter the summer as one of the market’s most high-profile free agents.
Former Manchester United starlet Angel Gomes said ‘goodbye’ to Lille as well.
Yet, while West Ham United have reached out to both players, transfer correspondent Graeme Bailey feels that the chances of either David or Gomes wearing claret and blue come the beginning of September are very slim indeed.
Reports have suggested that Jonathan David’s representatives were impressed by Graham Potter’s plans for the London Stadium outfit.
The striker himself, though, appears to have different ideas. Hammers News understands that David did not even take West Ham’s offer seriously.
Former director Tim Steidten also turned down the chance to bring David to London in the summer of 2024, when he was available for a reported £30 million [The Sun].
Since then, David has gone on to score 25 goals across the 2024/25 season. Nine of those came in the Champions League. David scored in famous wins against Real and Atletico Madrid, while also finding the net versus Juventus, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.
Given that West Ham will enter July with only Niclas Fullkrug amongst their senior centre-forward options as things stand, and considering that the likes of Emanuel Emegha, Jonathan Burkardt and Liam Delap appear destined for other clubs, the Jonathan David ship is one the Hammers may wish they had boarded while they had the chance.
Graham Potter set for disappointment in Angel Gomes chase
As for Angel Gomes, it is understood that West Ham have not even heard from the England international since February.
The London-born 24-year-old, who has spent half-a-decade at Lille after Man United failed to tie him down to a new contract, is expected to join Tottenham Hotspur if indeed he does return to the English capital.
Angel Gomes is a player Graham Potter ‘admires greatly’. According to Claret and Hugh, however, the feeling may not be mutual.
Gomes reportedly has reservations about the style of play Potter is looking to implement, even if he appears a natural number six pivot in the sort of free-flowing midfield set up the former Brighton, Swansea City and Chelsea coach prefers.
“A player like Gomes ticks an awful lot of boxes for Potter,” Bailey explained at the start of the year. “A player who loves the ball, can hold and distribute it with tremendous ease. A hugely impactful player that looks ready-made for a Potter team.
The likelihood is, with Jonathan David focused on a move elsewhere and with those Angel Gomes talks grinding to a halt, West Ham will have to delve deeper as an overhaul of their playing squad talks shape.
In terms of centre-forwards, Hammers News have reported that Atalanta’s £25 million forgotten man El Bilal Toure is one to watch.
West Ham are eyeing up Corinthians starlet Breno Bidon, too. A mobile, highly-technical young midfielder in the Angel Gomes mould.
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