Jonathan David impressed in Ligue 1 over the weekend (Image: Getty)
Jonathan David demonstrated both his selflessness and lack of ruthlessness over the weekend. The Canadian striker has been a consistent marksman in Ligue 1, tallying five goals in just six games this season, but passed up the chance to net a fourth goal from the penalty spot in favour of team-mate Angel Gomes.
David is reportedly attracting the interest of Liverpool, according to CaughtOffside, who claim the Reds could offer the forward a £4.2m contract as part of a £20million offer to Lille. He has previously attracted interest from Arsenal.
During his latest dazzling display against Le Havre, David made the unusual decision not to seize the opportunity for a fourth goal after Gomes went down in the box, having already netted a hat-trick. While a treble showcased his lethal finishing skills, his choice to step aside for the England newcomer - who Lee Carsley awarded a debut last month - only to watch him falter at the spot may raise eyebrows.
"It's true that I am someone who is quite generous, perhaps even too kind," David confessed to reporters after the 3-0 win. "I may need to work on this more selfish side of my game, more of a killer.
"Perhaps I am not selfish enough. It's something to think about for the future. It's true that I could have taken it [the penalty]. I tried to make a gesture towards him because I think he had a very good match and that he deserved a little more.
"He made some good chances that we didn't manage to convert. He deserved something. That's why I give it to him. Today, he didn't score and the question arises, but it will go in next time"
David passed up the opportunity for a fourth goal (Image: Getty)
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Lille were awarded a penalty deep into added time after Gomes was tripped when skilfully drifting past Le Havre goalkeeper Arthur Desmas. With a Golden Boot run potentially on his horizon, David was expected to step up and try net his fourth, reports the Mirror.
However, he decided to pass on his usual duties to English team-mate Gomes, whose relatively weak shot to the 'keeper's right was blocked. While it demonstrated David's team ethic in helping a team-mate try to get on the scoresheet, it arguably also displayed a lack of killer instinct which could prove crucial to teams like Arsenal and Liverpool when eyeing up a potential marksman in the future.
In contrast, a match between Chelsea and Everton back in April tested the 'killer' instincts of Cole Palmer - and one of the league's best did the opposite to David. The 22-year-old, who scored a hat-trick within 30 minutes in a 6-0 rout of Everton, took a second-half penalty into his own hands, bringing his total on the day to four and opting not to pass the chance to any of his Blues teammates.
While the two are different players, if Liverpool and Slot are looking for a striker in the future, they could either be inspired by the Canadian's generosity or deterred by a lack of ruthlessness that is evidently needed - as shown by Palmer - to succeed in the Premier League.
