He is the best free agent striker but will cost 70 million

The football transfer market for players whose contracts expire at the end of the season is bursting with big names. Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are among them, along with Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane, and Arsenal's Thomas Partey. However, most of these players are either in the later stages of their careers or on a downward trajectory. Finding a good but "free" investment in a young player is difficult. One of the standout names in this rare category is Jonathan David from Lille—arguably the most sought-after forward in the world right now among those with expiring contracts. The Canadian striker has been outstanding for years in northern France, scoring 107 goals in 225 matches over nearly five seasons. Now, he has decided it's time for the next step. He has rejected all contract extension offers and is now choosing his next club. And there is no shortage of interest—Juventus, Inter, Newcastle, West Ham, and even Liverpool are in the race.

PL once-Goliath eyeing David to help them get back on track

However, the fact that no transfer fee is required does not mean he comes "for free," as is often simplified when discussing free-agent transfers. Any club interested in David must be prepared for a total financial package of at least 70 million euros. Italian clubs have already received feedback from David and his agents. While they may save on the transfer fee, they will have to spend heavily on salary, bonuses, and agent commissions. David is demanding a net annual salary of five million, which, in gross terms, would cost clubs around nine million euros per year. Multiply that by the typical five-year contract for free agents…

Perhaps the most sought-after player with an expiring contract - Juve should beware of Bayern

Aware of their negotiating power and the advantage of not having a transfer fee involved, David and his agents are looking to cash in instantly. The player himself is asking for a 15 million signing bonus, while his agents are demanding a 10 million commission—figures that are not uncommon in such situations. Altogether, the total package amounts to around 70 million. For comparison, Inter Milan signed Marcus Thuram as a free agent from Borussia Monchengladbach under similar conditions. Inter outbid city rivals AC Milan by offering a net salary of six million (Milan had offered five million), while the agents secured an eight million commission, a figure later revealed in the club’s annual financial report.

Inter's general director, Beppe Marotta, has built a reputation as a master of these "free" transfers. During his time at Juventus, he signed players like Paul Pogba, Fernando Llorente, Andrea Pirlo, Kingsley Coman, Sami Khedira, Emre Can, Patrice Evra, Dani Alves, and Adrien Rabiot on free transfers. He has continued the trend at Inter with players such as Thuram, Piotr Zieliński, Mehdi Taremi, Alexis Sánchez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, André Onana, and Juan Cuadrado. Now, Italian giants are battling for the signature of the Canadian center-forward. Juventus seems more determined, as they desperately need a striker, whereas Inter can still rely on the Lautaro-Turam duo—though David would be a significant upgrade over alternatives like Taremi, Marko Arnautović, or Joaquín Correa.

COUPE DE FRANCE - SEMIFINAL

Tuesday

22:10: (18.0) Dunkerque (11.0) PSG (1.10)

Wednesday

22:00: (5.40) Cannes (3.70) Reims (1.60)

***odds are subject to change***