Everton manager Marco Silva will hope to finish higher than the 8th position his side managed in the 2018-19 season, possibly even challenging for a Europa League spot. The Merseyside club are reportedly closing in on a move for Ajax’s David Neres, as per UOL. The English club could put in a transfer bid of as much as £35 million in the summer transfer window to secure the services of the Brazilian winger.
The report states that Everton’s negotiations to sign Neres have been smooth thanks to the Brazilians who are already part of Everton’s contingent, Bernard and Richarlison, as well as Neres’ desire to play in the Premier League. But the English club will have to compete with Arsenal and PSG to sign the Brazilian.
Neres’ current contract with Ajax expires in 2022, but the Brazilian is set to leave the club- one of the many Ajax stars from the 2018-19 team who will exit the club in the summer. The 22-year-old winger joined the Dutch side in the 2017 January transfer window for €12 million from Brazilian club São Paulo. In the two and a half seasons that he has played for the club, Neres has scored 29 goals in 99 appearances in all competitions.
In 50 games in the 2018-19 season, the Brazilian scored 12 times and completed 15 assists for Ajax in all competitions, helping the club to a Dutch league title as well as the Dutch Cup, while also reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Good choice by Silva?
Everton have a couple of exciting attackers in Richarlison, Bernard and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, apart from the experience and guile of Gylfi Sigurdsson. But they will need to add a few more players to instil more depth to the squad which will surely aim for the European spots in the coming season.
Neres is a left-footed winger who primarily plays on the right side but can also play on the left and behind the striker as well. A quick and tricky winger, Neres likes to take on defenders with his pace and dribbling and put in crosses into the box. The Brazilian is also good with his off the ball movement, making quick passes and getting behind the defence to cause trouble to the opposition. He could provide the injection of quality which the Toffees have lacked in their quest to finish in the Top 6.
The skilful winger has shown great promise with Ajax and could be very potent in the Premier League. Defences in the Premier League would be in for a hard time if Neres and his compatriot Richarlison play on the wings for Everton.
He is more likely to end up at Anfield