West Ham genuinely believe they can beat Chelsea to striker Jonathan David after a very interesting update from a Sky Sports journalist.
Chelsea may have more money than West Ham but that won’t stop the Hammers competing for players.
That’s if a new claim is anything to go by today.
West Ham and Chelsea are both on the hunt for a striker in the summer transfer window.
The Hammers were perhaps too reliant on Jarrod Bowen for goals last season. And it showed as West Ham’s form fell off a cliff when Bowen got injured at the turn of the year.
There is no doubt Chelsea were far too reliant on Cole Palmer – who Karren Brady recently revealed almost joined West Ham last summer.
There are new managers at the London Stadium and Stamford Bridge in the shape of Julen Lopetegui and ex Hammers coach Enzo Maresca.
That means new philosophies, a new style of play and, of course, new players.
Hammers News reported on Sunday that Chelsea could be about to embarrass West Ham in the transfer market.
New managers means new players for West Ham and Chelsea
Because it emerged that Todd Boehly had come out of nowhere to leapfrog the Hammers by making contact with Lille striker Jonathan David.
While there’s no shame missing out on a player to moneybags Chelsea, the reason that would prove particularly embarrassing for West Ham is that the club has been tracking him for two years with a view to signing the Canadian this summer.
Why this summer? Because the Hammers are specifically targeting players of a certain age and profile who are entering the final year of their contracts in a bid to get them at knockdown prices.
David is up for sale and it was confirmed by reports in England and France this weekend that the Hammers remain interested.
The versatile 24-year-old is said to be available for between £20-25m. That fits into West Ham’s budget but also makes him easy pickings for a club like Chelsea.
So it seemed like the death knell for the hopes of West Ham technical director Tim Steidten when the news emerged that Chelsea had entered the running.
But West Ham genuinely believe they can beat Chelsea to striker David.
West Ham believe they can beat Chelsea to David
The Hammers have been heavily linked with Lille forward Jonathan David since Steidten’s arrival last summer.
Despite the interest of Chelsea, though, Steidten is still pushing for David.
In fact according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg West Ham are so unperturbed by Chelsea’s interest they are pressing ahead with gathering information about what’s needed to get a deal done.
And that could be as little as £16m he says.
“Chelsea and West Ham are seriously interested in Jonathan David!” Plettenberg states.
“Chelsea have inquired about the 24 y/o top striker from Lille in recent days.
“West Ham also gathered information. He’s also on the shortlist of Man United. A move to the Premier League is currently the most likely.
“David, on the verge to leave Lille this summer with one year left on his contract. Price valuation at this stage: €20-25m (£16-21m).”
David has been on West Ham’s radar since the summer before last. But Rob Newman and David Moyes elected to sign Gianluca Scamacca instead.
Journalist Graeme Bailey recently revealed David, who is leading the line for Canada at the Copa America this summer, was very much still wanted by West Ham.
David has scored a staggering 147 goals for club and country in his career so far. That’s some record for a 24-year-old who does not always play as a main striker.
Steidten is known to keep close tabs on Ligue 1 for potential targets and David is one of them.
This is ballsy from West Ham.
And it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve beaten Chelsea to a top star since Steidten’s arrival.
It was widely reported last summer that the Hammers beat Boehly’s Blues to the signing of Mohammed Kudus.
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