Jonathan David finally begins to vindicate Liverpool’s summer interest

Back in the summer transfer window, Liverpool were tied to a deal by Canadian forward Jonathan David.

Athletic reported in September that David was included in a list of possible attacking candidates that also included players such as Diogo Jota and Ismaila Sarr of Watford.

At just 20 years old, there is no question that David was one of the most exciting players available on the market.

David scored 23 goals in 40 appearances for Belgian team Gent throughout 2019/20, and also recorded 10 assists in the process.

In the end, he joined Lille last summer in a deal worth around € 30 million (£ 27 million).

Lille made a bargain?

Liverpool did not follow through with interest and instead traded their chips for former Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jota.

From the outside, it seems like a shrewd decision, although it’s important to put a few things in perspective before ruling out the possibility of the Reds replacing David again.

As for fate, Lille seems like a smart move on David’s part. The French side are currently locked in a title race with Paris Saint Germain in Ligue 1, and are also classified in the last 32 of the Europa League.

David himself has been a regular feature of Lille and has already made 19 appearances for his new team.

In that span, he has scored two goals and recorded three assists, a modest figure given his scoring exploits last season.

For such a substantial fee, Lille will hope there is still more to come from David’s perspective.

His scoring record may be easy to conclude that Liverpool dodged a bullet, but the reality is that David is showing encouraging signs of improvement.

The bedtime process is seemingly coming to an end and she’s finally starting to find her feet in her new home. David has two goals and one assist in his last three Ligue 1 appearances.

His recent upgrade showcases David’s undeniable talent and vindicates why Liverpool was right on the market for him in the first place.

The fact that the Reds chose Jota over David highlights that the meticulous data and research collected from Liverpool indicated more immediate benefits from signing first than second, a shrewd decision by the club.

However, Jota’s sustained brilliance this season shouldn’t undermine just how good a player David can be and, more importantly, why Liverpool shouldn’t rule out the possibility of re-entering the market for the player at the future.

Jota is currently further ahead in his development and has sought a more ready option to alter the dynamics of Liverpool’s three pedigree forwards.

If there’s anything to be gained from that, it’s that the Reds continue to claim themselves as the best in the business when it comes to transfers.

The fact that Liverpool were even in David’s market suggests that he is a player worth keeping an eye on.

Josh is a sportswriter from the South who has previously reported on the Reds both at home and off the press box. His idol is Joel Matip, while Madrid 19 to this day remains a blur to him.