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Chelsea are reportedly eyeing a move for Lille striker Jonathan David, who has already been linked with a move to Manchester United.

Manchester United wants a 50 million striker, and Chelsea is in the trade race for him: report

Have the Blues found a solution to their ongoing center-forward problems?

Jonathan David, a striker for Lille who has already been connected to a move to Manchester United, is apparently being watched by Chelsea.

In his four and a half seasons with the French team, the Canadian international has scored 69 goals and assisted Lille in winning Ligue 1 in 2020–21.

David, 24, is reportedly a target for Aston Villa as well. With 26 goals for his country, David is Canada’s second-highest scorer of all time.

On January 6, 2024, at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, during the French Cup football match between Lille LOSC and Golden Lion FC, Jonathan David, a forward from Canada, is looking at the game. (Image by AFP/Sameer Al-DOUMY) (Image courtesy of AFP/SAMEER AL-DOUMY via Getty Images))

Chelsea is reportedly keeping an eye on the former Gent forward, who signed with Lille for €30 million in the summer of 2020 after finishing as the Belgian top flight’s joint top scorer the season before. This information comes from the French TV show Telefoot.

With Christopher Nkunku missing the majority of the season due to injury and Nicolas Jackson failing to impress in the Premier League, the Blues are facing yet another season of center-forward woes.

Last summer, Chelsea spent a total of £84 million to acquire the two players for Stamford Bridge, only two years after Romelu Lukaku failed to make a lasting impression upon his return to West London.

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 23: Canadian Jonathan David in action during Belgium vs. Canada in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar on November 23, 2022. Image courtesy of Visionhaus/Getty Images

David, who has 45 caps for Canada, played in each of their three World Cup 2022 matches (Image credit: Getty Images).)

To be sure, David hasn’t exactly been on a roll this season, scoring six goals in 19 league games and eleven in 26 games across all competitions.

However, compared to someone like Victor Osimhen, David would be a far more affordable option: Transfermarkt now values David at €50 million (£42.7 million).

Chelsea might be able to work out a deal to bring him in on a free transfer in the summer of 2025, when his current Lille contract ends, if they wait until this time next year.