Fulham have launched an audacious bid to sign Lille forward Jonathan David on a free transfer, according to GiveMeSport’s Dean Jones.

The Whites are casting a wide net as they seek to strengthen their forward options and have held extensive talks with the Canadian international’s representatives over the course of the last ten months as David considers new destinations with his Stade Pierre-Mauroy contract set to expire in the summer.

The Brooklyn-born 25 year-old has scored 97 goals in 203 games for Lille since moving to France from Gent in August 2020. David, who is Canada’s all-time leading goalscorer and was the star of the side that reached both the 2022 World Cup finals and Copa America semi-finals this summer, has attracted interest from right across Europe. He was expected to leave Lille last summer but turned down a move to West Ham United and has scored thirteen goals in nineteen games this term.

David, heavily linked with Newcastle United, has informed Fulham of the personal terms that would be required to bring him to Craven Cottage but the big stumbling block will be European football. David, currently playing in the Champions’ League for the Mastifs, will want to play continental football in 2025/2026 and the Cottagers have so far failed to qualify for European competition despite two impressive campaigns under Marco Silva since winning the Championship in 2021.