Lille (AFP)

After the record sale, the record purchase: less than two weeks after parting with Victor Osimhen for a check for an amount exceeding 70 million euros, Lille has secured the services of Jonathan David for an amount not communicated but which would be 27 million according to a source close to the Belgian club.

Losc had so far never exceeded 20 million, invested in Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches last summer.

With Jonathan David, the Losc remains in the continuity of its project, where many young talents are supervised by a few experienced players. But he also strikes a blow, the Canadian international being on the radars of many European clubs.

Author of 30 goals in the league, 7 in the Europa League and 11 with his selection during his first two professional seasons, David, 20, is already driving the counters crazy.

Especially since his statistics do not say everything: versatile player, regularly aligned as second striker or even playmaker, the top scorer of the last Belgian championship is also a good passer.

- "Play and progress" -

"He is a player who has great physical, technical but also mental qualities, which make him particularly lively, agile and decisive", said Marc Ingla, general manager of the Mastiffs, in a statement on the official website .

The officialization of the transfer puts an end to a file that dragged on. Interested for a long time, the northern club had to wait for the sale of Victor Osimhen on July 31 to move up a gear, further increasing the amount of offers deemed too low by La Gantoise.

A situation that annoyed the attacker, who publicly announced his desire to leave in the columns of the newspaper L'Equipe on July 18. "I don't think there is a lot of respect from my leaders. (...) I want to play in Lille. I had a very good season. For me, the next step is Ligue 1 and the Losc sports project is top notch, ”he said.

Jonathan David, who knew he was about to leave, had not participated in the first day of the championship with his club on Sunday.

"I'm very happy. I've looked forward to this day a lot, and it's a pleasure to be a Mastiff today. I want to play and improve, and I think it's the perfect place," said the player in the press release published on the website of his new club.

- Still files to complete -

Le Losc, who lost Osimhen and Loïc Rémy this summer, will therefore have a "new look" attack for the recovery. Turkey international Burak Yilmaz, 35, was the first offensive rookie signing a two-season contract on August 1.

Convinced that he needs three high-level strikers to play the championship and the Europa League head-on, coach Christophe Galtier is still hoping for a recruit in this sector. Alfredo Morelos, Colombian belonging to the Rangers (Scotland), is one of the priority targets.

Lille should also continue to stimulate the market, but in the direction of departures. Very courted in England, the Brazilian defender Gabriel will soon change tune. But Losc, who have already found their replacement, the Dutchman Sven Botman, are waiting for an offer of 30 million to let him go.

© 2020 AFP