Aston Villa have now learned that Lille star, Jonathan David won’t be moving in the January window despite recent interest.
The January transfer window is heading towards its deadline this week and it has been very quiet for Aston Villa with a lack of transfers.
It did appear the window was up and running as Unai Emery brought in youngster, Kosta Nedeljkovic. However, he has returned to Red Star Belgrade on loan for the rest of the season.
Rumours have consistently been that the Villans looking to sign attacking reinforcement in the January window.
This has seen links to young, versatile options like Morgan Rogers and Jonathan Rowe in the past few weeks.
There has also been rumours surrounding a potential swap deal between Jhon Duran and Armando Broja but that has quietened down.
Now a player who was linked to the Villans earlier in the window has had his future at his current club secured for the season.
Jonathan David staying at Lille
There have been lots of rumours swirling around Villa Park this month with all bar one leading to nothing as of yet.
It has always seemed that Emery and Co. have wanted to add a versatile forward option to his squad this month. With a few days remaining in the window, it appears as if this sort of move is getting away from them.
Now a report from Fabrizio Romano has outlined one star that the Villans won’t be getting their hands on this month.
On that, he said: “Jonathan David won’t leave Lille in the final days of the January transfer window. Lille want to keep their best players in January despite interest from England, Spain, and Italy, David is staying. He’s gonna be one to watch in summer as current deal expires in June 2025.”
This points towards a potential summer move which could see David available on a cheaper deal than he might have been in January.
According to FotMob, the Canada international has scored six goals and assisted one across 16 Ligue 1 starts for Lille this season.
He certainly would have been a useful option to become backup to Ollie Watkins in the Villa squad this season. David is a physical striker who does have pace and has an eye for goal with electric finishing.
Given that Emery has put faith in Nicolo Zaniolo to play as a second-string striker, David would have been better. Given the FFP restrictions surrounding every club right now, this move did feel unlikely and isn’t now happening.
