The Europa League winners are not done in the transfer market just yet, though, as Joao Palhinha appears in line to join from Bayern Munich after agreeing on personal terms with the club.
Villa could be set to add to their options further up the pitch, with David a potential incoming from Juventus.
“David isn’t your typical footballer. He’s got a strong personality, a strong character. He’s gentle, he’s good, he needs to feel involved, to feel embraced. – Luciano Spalletti on Jonathan David
The Canada international only joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer last summer after his previous goalscoring exploits with Lille in France.
Contributing 109 goals and 31 assists in his time with the Ligue 1 club, David was unable to hit the heights in his debut campaign at Juventus as he found himself in and out of the team.
The 26-year-old did still manage eight goals, with two of those coming for the Italian giants in the Champions League.
Speaking last year, Canada manager Jesse March also waxed lyrical about the centre-forward.
The former Leeds boss said: “I think they, by signing him, have secured an exceptional player.” He also described the forward as being “very intelligent, able to play in different positions in attack, alone or in a pair with another striker.”
A move away from Juventus could come to fruition this summer, especially with Spalletti’s team adding to their frontline with the permanent addition of former loanee Randal Kolo Muani.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
What Jonathan David Would Bring to Aston Villa
Jonathan David goals and assists stats:
Canada: 42 goals and 20 assists in 82 games
Juventus: Eight goals and five assists in 46 games
Lille: 109 goals and 31 assists in 232 games
KAA Gent: 37 goals and 15 assists in 83 games
The potential arrival of David to Villa Park would give Emery more choice when it comes to his attack during the 2026/27 season as the Midlands club aim to go far in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Already having Ollie Watkins as their first-choice option, Villa re-signed Tammy Abraham on a permanent basis from Besiktas back in January and they now have 17-year-old Brian Madjo following his transfer from Metz.
It was in fact Madjo who led the line and scored on his debut in the team’s 2-1 UEFA Super Cup final defeat against PSG on Wednesday evening.
In terms of David, he is an out-and-out striker who would bring even more experience and nous in front of goal to Emery’s team.
His goal record for club and country is extremely impressive, with his time at Lille a standout that ultimately resulted in his move to Juventus.
Brighton & Hove Albion ace Carlos Baleba is on Newcastle United’s list of targets this summer, according to the Daily Mail.
It has been a summer of change on Tyneside with three high-profile player exits from the football club and Matthias Jaissle replacing Eddie Howe as head coach.
In terms of the playing squad, the Magpies have cashed in on Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes following their respective transfers to Barcelona, Tottenham and Arsenal.
Players have come in through the door, though, but Jaissle looks to have quite the task on his hands as Newcastle bid to make a fast start to the season.
Newcastle were in pre-season friendly action on Wednesday evening, losing 3-1 to Everton at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Newcastle have added to their midfield with the additions of Steur and Bamba this summer but the loss of Tonali and Guimaraes could prove huge given what they contributed to the team.
Further quality in the middle of the park is needed, with a statement signing in midfield something that would go down incredibly well considering the outgoings ahead of the new term.
“If he plays his position really, really smart, no one can really outplay him or win duels against him. And I think if he concentrates on that and shows his ability then after, on the ball or driving with the ball, it’s frightening what he can do.” – Pascal Gross on Carlos Baleba
Sources have told the Daily Mail that the 22-year-old is one to keep an eye on as the window progresses as he is currently nursing an ankle injury, but he is viewed as an ‘ambitious’ target.
What Baleba would add to Newcastle’s midfield
Baleba has earned rave reviews since joining Brighton from Ligue 1 side Lille in 2023.
Baleba is such a talented midfielder that very few players can outplay him, with Brighton teammate Pascal Gross pointing to his ‘wow’ factor and stating that “it’s frightening what he can do”.
“I think Carlos is so talented, he gives so much to the team. I always think when he’s in good positions he can show his physicality. When he’s not in good positions, sometimes you can’t affect it anymore,” Gross told Brighton & Hove Albion’s official website.
“So if he plays his position really, really smart, no one can really outplay him or win duels against him. And I think if he concentrates on that and shows his ability then after, on the ball or driving with the ball, it’s frightening what he can do.
“I think it’s focus and concentration and keeping it simple then you will see actions where the whole stadium goes ‘Wow’. As a holding midfielder, it’s about reliable consistency and we’re working with him on that.
“Carlos is a top guy and a top player. He did really well against Chelsea. I’m happy for him.”
One of the finest African footballers of all time, striker Samuel Eto’o started his senior career at Real Madrid, although he spent much of his three-year spell with the club away on loan. Mallorca, who initially took him on a temporary basis in 2000, made the move permanent later that year.
Eto’o developed into a highly promising player in La Liga with Mallorca, establishing himself as a dependable goalscorer and catching the attention of Real Madrid’s biggest rivals. In 2004, the Cameroonian joined Barcelona, spending the following five years at the club and developing into one of the world’s leading strikers.
During his time with Barca, Eto’o collected three La Liga titles and lifted the Champions League trophy twice. Barcelona completed a European treble in 2008/09, and Eto’o would achieve the same feat in the following campaign after joining Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.
Eto’o moved to Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala in 2011 before making his first switch to the Premier League two years later. He spent one season at Chelsea before joining Everton when his contract expired, leaving the Toffees and English football in 2015. During the final four years of his playing career, Eto’o represented Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and Qatar SC before retiring in 2019.
Samuel Eto’o Club Career Stats
Playing Career
1997-2019
Appearances
754
Goals
368
Assists
117
Notable Clubs
Mallorca, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea
The former striker has continued to remain involved in football and Eto’o has offered plenty of his views, including in 2021 when, as reported by AS via Squawka, he revealed which player he believed could challenge Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or record.
Eto’o Predicted Bright Future For Real Madrid Ace
In 2021, Kylian Mbappe was in his fourth season with Paris Saint-Germain, having arrived from Monaco and been tasked, alongside stars such as Lionel Messi and Neymar, with helping the club win the Champions League. Although only 23 at the time, Mbappe had already won the World Cup and established himself among the finest players in his position.
“He (Kylian Mbappe) is there and it has arrived at a good moment, in which Messi and Cristiano (Ronaldo), the gods of football, are in the night of their careers due to age and Mbappe is arriving. I hope he will be the biggest for the next 10 or 15 years. He has everything to be this unique player that soccer needs after these two monsters.”
Mbappe remained with PSG for another three seasons, failing to win either the Ballon d’Or or the Champions League before leaving for Real Madrid in 2024. The Parisians, in their first campaign without the French forward, secured their first Champions League title, while Mbappe did not win a major trophy during his debut season in Madrid despite producing strong individual performances.
Real Madrid are not accustomed to going without silverware, but PSG have since gone back-to-back in Europe while Mbappe is still waiting for a major trophy in Spain. Mbappe could still make a push for the Ballon d’Or, although surpassing Messi’s record of eight victories would require an extraordinary level of achievement.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
(All stats are from Transfermarkt and are correct as of 13-08-26)
Arsenal have held talks with Galatasaray over a deal to sign striker Victor Osimhen, according to reports.
The Gunners are understood to be in the market to strengthen their attack this summer, despite winning the Premier League for the first time since 2004 and reaching the Champions League final last season, scoring over 100 goals in all competitions in the process.
But after missing out on Morgan Rogers, and with the future of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli in question, Mikel Arteta is keen to provide more competition in the striker position for Viktor Gyokeres, and a move for the Nigerian has now been spoken about with the Turkish champions.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Arsenal and Galatasaray have held formal talks about a deal that could take Osimhen to the Emirates Stadium.
