Arsenal add £20m “mind-blowing” Havertz upgrade to transfer list

It was just another campaign for Arsenal last season as they came agonizingly close to toppling Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and almost reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

However, while they finished without a trophy, Mikel Arteta's side took another step forward in 2023/24, and with the right additions this summer, they could clear the final hurdle next year.

So, fans should be delighted that the latest player tipped to move up to N5 is a prolific goalscorer who has been on fire for years – even though he may put Kai Havertz in the wrong.

The search for an Arsenal striker

The Gunners have been linked with a number of talented players in the past few months, be it Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig or Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP.

However, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have included LOSC Lille's Jonathan David on their striker target list and will be keeping an eye on him at the Copa América.

The report is tight-lipped on a potential price, but an article in The Guardian earlier this week said it could be less than £20m due to his contract expiring next summer, although this has also attracted the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham United. .

This extra competition could complicate any possible transfer for David, but given his performances in recent seasons and the fee, Edu Gaspar and Co should do everything they can to bring the Canadian to N5 this summer, even if that means during Havertz's game.

How does David compare to Havertz

So, if Arsenal can get their hands on David in the coming weeks ahead of the tough competition, he could face Havertz for the number nine spot in Arteta's squad, as the second half of last season proved to be the case. it is clear that this Spanish player no longer sees Gabriel Jesus as his starting striker.

So, how do they compare? Well, from a pure output point of view, there is really no competition between them.

Four years ago, the sensation of Lille, Canadian journalist Tony Marinaro described it as “one of the best strikers in the world,” he has scored 84 goals and provided 18 assists in 183 games. This equates to an average goal involvement every 1.79 games over four campaigns.

In contrast, the former Chelsea man has scored 46 goals and provided 19 assists in 190 appearances, meaning he has an average of 2.9 goal involvements per game in the same period.

Unfortunately, this German player, although he is moving up if you look at the numbers of the strikers involved, still comes second.

For example, the Canadian “thinker”, as talent scout Jacek Kulig calls him, produces more expected non-penalty goals and assists, scores actual non-penalty goals, provides more assists, receives more passes, takes more. shots and shots on target while scoring more goals per shot and shooting on target, and maintaining the best accuracy, all of 90.

In his defence, the Aachen-born forward comes forward to get continuous passes and shots and goal-building action in the 90, but that's about it.

Finally, towards the end of last season, Havertz showed the fans and Arteta that he could be a suitable striker for the club, but when it comes to being an out-and-out number 9, there is no real competition between him. and David.

So, based on his incredible form in recent years and the attractive low price reported by those in the know, Edu and Co should look to bring the Lille man to the Emirates this summer.