Newcastle respond to Jonathan David rumours after reported talks

Newcastle United have a long-standing interest in Canada striker Jonathan David and were thought to be one of many clubs ready to pounce for the free agent last summer.

Jonathan David was seeing out his contract at Lille, but kept very coy on where his future lay when his time in France came to an end, and Newcastle's name was regularly mentioned as a potential destination before he ultimately revealed that he'd agreed a move to Juventus.

Unfortunately for David, though, things haven't gone according to plan in Serie A with the striker only managing six goals in his first season for the Turin side.

It's now expected that David will be available to move in the summer. It was initially expected he'd be able to move on loan, but The Chronicle claims that even a fee of £25 million could be enough to make the move a permanent one.

Newcastle won't be in for Jonathan David

As much of a bargain as that would be, Newcastle aren't likely to pursue the deal, according to their report, and they reveal that club insiders have insisted that the recent reports suggesting Jonathan David's people have contacted Newcastle about his availability are false.

The Chronicle claims that Eddie Howe isn't currently looking for a striker and is happy enough with the three options he has. This is contrary to reports from earlier in the year when it was believed that a striker would be high on the list for Newcastle in the summer.

Since then, however, Will Osula has hit a purple patch of form, and Eddie Howe has seen enough from Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa in training to believe that he can get a lot more from them next season.

Wissa out, David in?

While we fully expect Woltemade and Wissa to contribute a lot more next season after a good pre-season behind them, it's not a guarantee, and as such, we feel that adding another striker wouldn't be the worst move.

If Jonathan David is available for £25 million, we should be elbowing everyone out of the way to get to the front of the queue. His wages may be an issue, and convincing him to come to us in a season in which we don't have European football may be tricky, but one bad season doesn't end a career - usually.

If we have to, we could try to move Yoane Wissa on to make way. I know I just said one bad season and all that, but he's turning 30 this year, he's past his peak, David is 26, so is just hitting his.

It won't happen, though. I don't know why I keep torturing myself with the idea that he'll ever play for Newcastle.