Lille striker Jonathan David has already sent a message to Newcastle United amid recent transfer interest. The striker is highly regarded on Tyneside and across Europe.

Newcastle have until February 3 to complete their transfer business, and are yet to make any new signings. The Magpies are sixth in the Premier League table and recently enjoyed a nine-game winning run before it came to an end at the hands of Bournemouth at the weekend.

Chronicle Live reported on Tuesday that Newcastle have made their first move in a potential effort to sign David from Lille. The Magpies are understood to have sent a high-level club employee to watch David in action for the Ligue 1 club in their 2-1 win over Nice last Friday.

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A host of clubs have previously been credited with an interest in signing David, and now Newcastle have joined the queue in trying to bring the Canada international to St James' Park. Amid the interest, David has already sent a message that Magpies boss Eddie Howe may have to bear in mind.

Speaking to The Athletic in November, David admitted that he does not find it straight forward the idea of joining a new club during the January transfer window.

“Going to a club midseason is never easy,” said David. “It’s not like the beginning of a season where you have a pre-season, you get to know your team-mates, you have time to gel. In January, things are very hectic. It’s about right now. It’s tougher.”

That will be something that Howe will have noted. The Newcastle head coach prefers to take his time bedding in new signings, wanting them to get up to speed with his style of play, tactics and intensity. Anthony Gordon was used sparingly when he first joined from Everton in the 2023 January transfer window, as was Bruno Guimareas a year prior, while Lewis Hall and even Alexander Isak took time to get used to what Howe wanted from them.

David, himself, has admitted there are parts of his game that he can improve. He added: "Some people might say, ‘Oh, he’s staying at Lille, this is a downgrade, he’s not getting better’. But for me, there’s always opportunities to get better.

“Aerially, I can get better. Getting that header on target and scoring. I can get in good positions and win headers but the finishing touch, I’m still missing. With my back to goal, I can also get better.”

This was not the first time that David had opened up about his future. Back in 2022, the striker admitted that he has ambitions of playing in the Premier League in his career, something that may provide a boost to Newcastle who will need to beat off competition from across Europe for the Canadian's services.

"In England, when I watch the matches, everything is full each time," David told La Voic du Nord in 2022. "As a player, it motivates you even more.

"I don't know, I think it's possible, very possible. I don't know if I can find myself anywhere other than the Premier League. It could well be the Premier League. It's a very nice atmosphere."