According to Het Laatste Nieuws (h/t Sport Witness), Everton are interested in Jonathan David but may have to pay KAA Gent a lofty sum to procure his signature. The 20-year-old has been in fine form this season, scoring and creating 26 goals in 25 Belgian First Division A games.
Everton are one of many clubs interested in David, but Gent’s technical director Michel Louwagie has made it clear that the Canadian international won’t be leaving for cheap. It would take a bid in excess of Belgium’s transfer record (Sander Berge to Sheffield United for €25m) before Louwagie pays attention.
He told Het Laatste Nieuws: “Our goal is to keep this team together, even after the summer. We didn’t extend David’s contract until 2023 for nothing. It’s great that we have a top scorer like David, but we want to keep him. Of course, we won’t let such a player go for 25 million (euros).”
David has spent two years at Gent, having joined the club from Ottawa ISC in January 2018. He was promoted to the first-team the following summer and hasn’t looked back – 19 goals and assists in 2018/19, 32 goals and assists in 2019/20.
Everton have Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Moise Kean at their disposal so they aren’t short on attacking options, but the Toffees do continue to be linked with forwards. Moussa Dembele is on their radar but his £83m asking price could be a stumbling block.