When Lille made an offer for Alfredo Morelos in 2020, it looked close to being agreed, however, they weren’t interested in negotiating and instead went for Jonathan David.
A bid of £16.25m was confirmed by Lille’s hierarchy but Rangers were, at the time, looking for £20m and not a penny less.
Now, as Alfredo Morelos sits without a club, Jonathan David is set for a big money move in a real sliding doors story with the 23-year old valued at £50m according to The Daily Mail.
The contrasting fortunes of Alfredo Morelos and Jonathan David
With 29 goals and 10 assists, 2019/20 was the Colombian international’s best season for the club, had Covid-19 not intervened, breaking the 30 goal mark would have been guaranteed.
Records were set in European football and his stock was on the rise after dominant performances against Porto and Feyenoord.
It seemed like only a matter of time before he would leave.
Lille’s offer was the highest concrete offer for Alfredo Morelos and, with hindsight, is one that probably should have been accepted even if we did win 55 the following season.
As for Jonathan David, once Lille paid £25m for his services, they were never coming back in for Morelos.
With Tottenham Hotspur one of the clubs said to be interested in the Canada international and a valuation of £50m, the Ligue 1 outfit has clearly made the right decision.
The 23-year old is on an upward trajectory meanwhile, Alfredo Morelos is 27 and without a club for over three months.
Had he maintained his form of 2019/20, Morelos would have had his pick of clubs.
Instead, long periods of fitness problems and discipline concerns with three managers will have put off those that can afford not to take the gamble.
Lille, without doubt, made the right call.
