Chelsea plot bid for bargain striker Tottenham wanted to replace Harry Kane

Chelsea are said to be in discussions for a bargain deal for Lille striker Jonathan David, as they seek a new forward to challenge Nicolas Jackson for the first-choice No.9 spot.

David has been a consistent scorer in Ligue 1, attracting attention from several Premier League clubs.

Previously, Tottenham were rumoured to be interested in the Canadian international, with former manager Antonio Conte reportedly seeing the 24-year-old as a potential replacement for Harry Kane before his departure in early 2023.

However, when Kane transferred to Bayern Munich, Spurs opted not to directly replace him, instead signing winger Brennan Johnson. This decision could now provide Chelsea with an opportunity to secure a cost-effective deal for David this summer.

Reports suggest that Chelsea are seriously considering a move for Lille’s star striker.

Sky Sport in Germany have reported that the west London club have made inquiries about the player who is also thought to be on West Ham and Manchester United’s radar.

David’s hefty £51million price tag last summer apparently put off Spurs, but he is expected to be available for a significantly lower fee.

With the striker entering the final year of his contract, Lille are reportedly willing to accept between £17m and £21m (€20m-€25m), reports the Mirror.

Chelsea will be delighted with the revised asking price as they aim to bolster their attacking line-up, despite Jackson netting 14 league goals in his debut season.

David has been a constant presence in every Ligue 1 match this season, scoring 19 goals and aiding Lille in securing Champions League qualification, justifying Conte’s previous interest in the striker.

Spurs are also on the hunt for a new forward this summer, and it is believed that David remains on their radar. The Canadian international is currently participating in the Copa America and hopes to add to his tally of 26 goals scored for Lille across all competitions.

The forward’s performance this season underscores why he would be a prime target for both Chelsea and Spurs, who failed to secure a top-four spot last season.

It remains to be seen how Chelsea will perform under Maresca, but there were promising signs in the final months of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure.

In the meantime, Spurs are concentrating on recruiting a new lead striker after narrowly missing out on a top-four finish.

Son Heung-min was primarily utilised in the central role, scoring 17 league goals, but Ange Postecoglou’s team struggled when the captain was deployed as a striker, amassing only 36 points from 23 matches.

However, Chelsea may throw a spanner in the works by securing David for a steal.