Manchester United are mulling over a summer move for Ajax’s attacking sensation David Neres, it has been claimed.
According to The Sun, United are ready to rival Arsenal in the pursuit of Neres, who has impressed the onlookers with his blistering performances in the Eredivisie as well as in the UEFA Champions League.
It is believed that Neres could cost around £45 million, with Everton also keeping tabs on the youngster, who is touted as the next big thing in Brazilian football.
David Neres: An interesting option for Manchester United
Neres has been a vital component of the Ajax side that has defied all expectations to reach the semi-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League. The Brazilian was the x-factor in the win over Real Madrid in the Round of 16 while he also scored the all-important first leg equaliser against Juventus in the quarterfinals.
As a result, Neres has seen an immense rise in stock in recent weeks, with United already plotting a summer move for the 22-year-old.
Neres has been consistently productive since his debut for Ajax in 2017. In 93 appearances, he has scored 29 goals and assisted a further 32. The scintillating displays of his teammates like De Jong, De Ligt and Tagliafico might result in them hogging most of the limelight but Neres is firmly a part of the reason behind Ajax’s steep rise this season.
Pace and skills might be his strongest forte but the consistency he provides will prove invaluable to any team as has been the case with the Dutch side this season. He has either scored or assisted in 16 games in the league having started 18 of those while he was a substitute in the other 10.
The Red Devils, following an impressive spell under Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, haven’t had the best of times since the Norwegian’s permanent appointment, having won just two of their last seven matches in all competitions. Their most recent defeat came against Barcelona, where Lionel Messi’s onslaught smacked the Premier League giants out of the Champions League.
The loss to Barcelona also indicated Manchester United’s lack of offensive firepower, with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard struggling to make an impression. As a result, the team has often appeared overreliant on the services of Marcus Rashford, who has been the only consistent performer for United in attack this season.
Therefore, the addition of a new attacker could be imperative if they are to compete for the title next season and Ajax forward Neres is someone who can grow leaps and bounds under the tutelage of Ole.
And at the age of 22, Neres has time on his side and could be a cheaper alternative to Jadon Sancho, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford since the January transfer window.