Arne Slot could recruit a highly-coveted asset to replace Darwin Nunez this summer at no cost – though Jurgen Klopp was the first Liverpool manager to want him at Anfield
Jonathan David is a potential free replacement for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool having been monitored for years during Jurgen Klopp’s reign.The Reds have been linked with a move for the Lille frontman as far back as 2021 during Klopp’s nine-year tenure. And David is due to be one of the hottest properties on the market this summer as he approaches the end of his contract in France.
Nunez, 25, is two-and-a-half years into his Merseyside stay but is still failing to hit his stride as many will have hoped. The Uruguayan has scored just four goals in 23 appearances across all competitions so far this season, with only two of those coming in the Premier League.
Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz have been rotated by Arne Slot as Liverpool’s central attacker in recent months. But faith in £85million signing Nunez is running out among many fans, leading to talk of a renewed push to recruit David.
The Canada international leads Ligue 1’s scoring chart on 11 goals so far this campaign, with 17 and five assists across all competitions. Juventus have also been fiercely linked with the attacker in months, with an exit from Lille in the summer looking all but inevitable as things stand.
The player – who has adopted an increasingly advanced role over the years – has displayed composure with an array of big goals this term. David has scored against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid (twice) and Juventus in this season’s Champions League.
Mundo Deportivo reported in 2022 that David – who turns 25 this month – was wanted by Klopp in a potential £40million deal. The Brooklyn-born star has only increased his value since then, though the opportunity to sign him for free could be too good to pass up.
Slot has credit in the bank to tweak his squad this summer after a slow first transfer window in charge at Anfield. He added Federico Chiesa to his ranks in a budget £10m deal, while £25m goalkeeper Girorgi Mamardashvili won’t arrive from Valencia until the end of this season.Former Leeds manager Jesse Marsch hailed David as “the most intelligent footballer” he’s coached after taking over Canada’s national team last year.
And it’s that kind of wit around the field that could appeal to Slot in the coming months.”I’ve advertised him often as the most intelligent footballer I’ve ever coached,” Marsch told reporters in November. “His ability to put things to practice, his ability to read in the game, what’s necessary. He’s really clever.”
A disparity in intelligence would perhaps be amongst the critiques one could label against Nunez, who often displays superb athleticism but lacks the necessary nous in the final third. After averaging almost a goal every other game across his five seasons at Lille, David can’t be accused of the same lacking shortcomings.
