Chelsea hold talks with Lille striker Jonathan David over possible transfer... after the club's president gives prolific goalscorer his BLESSING to leave

Chelsea are talking to Lille striker Jonathan David's representatives with a view to buying him this summer. 

Only Kylian Mbappe and Alexandre Lacazette have scored more Ligue 1 goals in the last two seasons than the 24-year-old. 

Lille's president Olivier Letang has said that David can leave and the Canada international has just a year left on his contract.

He has also been considered by other clubs such as Manchester United and Tottenham.  

The Blues are yet to place a bid but are said to have a solid working relationship with Letang because Chelsea's owners, BlueCo, also own Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. 

Chelsea have long been linked with David - even back in 2022 there were reports of their intrigue - while Arsenal, Manchester United, and Everton were reported to have taken a shine to him way back in 2020. 

All of that can be explained by the striker's scintillating record wherever he has been.

The Brookyln-born star began his professional career with Gent in Belgium and scored 37 goals in 83 appearances to earn his move to France.

David has spent the last four years developing at Lille and was instrumental in their title-winning campaign of 2020-21 under Christophe Galtier. 

His stint in Lille has brought him 84 goals in 183 matches, including 26 in each of the last two seasons, meaning he is their third-top all-time goalscorer. 

The 2021-22 season brought him Champions League experience, with the forward scoring three goals in eight games and playing in both last 16 matches against Chelsea. 

Last season he played in every single league game and scored 19 Ligue 1 goals, a total inferior only to that of Kylian Mbappe.

On the international stage David is no less destructive. He has 26 goals in 49 appearances for Canada and leads the line for them in the Copa America this summer.