AS we enter the final days of the summer transfer window, the yearly delirium begins to take hold. Desperate clubs make desperate moves and fans fret over their team’s business or lack thereof.
Every club has pretensions of grand, overarching strategies in their player recruitment, with philosophies adhered to and meticulous planning done months in advance. But with money abundant and marginal gains worth millions, panic buys are inevitable.
Yet there is one player who has remained somewhat overlooked, despite the fact he would improve almost every Premier League side with top-six ambitions, and who appears to be available for a relatively affordable fee.
David Neres goals and assists. pic.twitter.com/ei7Gqxy2dm
— ManUtd FC (@OLEvolutionFC) June 1, 2019
As deadline day approaches, David Neres should be getting a lot more attention.
Ajax have already lost Matthijs De Ligt and Frenkie de Jong – two of the young stars of last season’s enrapturing run to the semi-finals of the Champions League – to Juventus and Real Madrid respectively, while midfielder Donny van de Beek is set for a big-money move to Real Madrid.
Neres may not have as high a profile as those Dutch internationals, but the Brazilian was key to Ajax’s success at home and in Europe’s premier club competition last term and has consistently impressed ever since arriving in Amsterdam in January 2017.
The versatile winger, who is equally comfortable of the left and right sides of attack, scored crucial knockout-stage goals against Real Madrid and Juventus last season. And his big-game temperament was further evidenced by goals against Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord and PSV as Ajax claimed a first league title in five years.
David Neres boasts some pretty decent stats for a 22 year old at right wing
Is he the winger we've been crying out for? #MUFC pic.twitter.com/EgkjELUgZX
— StretfordPaddock (@StretfordPaddck) July 8, 2019
His performances in those Champions League triumphs were about more than goals, too. Neres demonstrated a degree of work ethic and discipline that has been one of the developing tenets of his game since his arrival in Europe, pressing in coordination with his colleagues and diligent in his out-of-possession work.
Against the European heavyweights, Neres was also daring, running at his marker at every opportunity and refusing to allow the occasion to temper his creative instincts. His strike against Juve – a rasping drive across goal to cap a determined run down the left – was the work of a player in peak confidence.
In the Champions League last season, no player could match Neres’ average of 2.41 possession wins in the attacking third per 90 minutes, showing his efficacy within a high-pressing system – an approach customary at Ajax since the days of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, and increasingly prevalent throughout the modern game.
Goal of the match definitely has to go to David Neres, carried the ball up the field by himself then chipped the keeper. This kid has a lot of confidence! pic.twitter.com/K6sxyu89Oz
— Brasil Football (@BrasilEdition) June 9, 2019
Hakim Ziyech (2.8) was the only Ajax player with a higher average than Neres (2.4) for successful take-ons per 90 minutes in the Eredivisie last season, but the five-cap Brazil international was far less wasteful in his dribbling, attempting just 3.7 take-ons per 90 to Ziyech’s 6.3; although Neres thrives in one-v-one situations, he assesses risk well.
Neres made 50 appearances in all competitions for Ajax last season, dividing his game time evenly between the right and left flanks without his productivity being impacted – his 12 goals were split 50-50 between starts on either wing.
Still only 22, with Champions League pedigree and two-and-a-half seasons’ experience in one of Europe’s most prolific developmental leagues, Neres is a prime candidate for a big-money switch to a continental force. There were murmurings of interest from Everton as the 2018/19 campaign drew to a close, and reports in Brazil claim Manchester United are readying a £46m bid for the former Sao Paulo star.
Manchester United have made a shock move for David Neres by launching a stunning £46m bid, according to reports.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/fqrzemKuIB
— FOOTBALL NOT SOCCER (@TheSporTalk) August 6, 2019
Ajax are said to value Neres at £65m, but that figure shouldn’t price out clubs from the Premier League.
Manchester City are well stocked in the attacking positions and Chelsea are banned from registering new players. But Liverpool’s title hopes would be boosted by the addition of such a versatile, high-level forward to back up their front three; United have a glaring, right-winger-shaped hole in their squad; Tottenham may yet lose Christian Eriksen, so an adaptable, hard-working creator such as Neres would be an ideal signing; and any of the chasing pack – Leicester City, Everton, West Ham, Wolves – would be making a huge statement of intent with a serious offer for the Brazilian.
Ticking so many boxes for so many sides still in need of reinforcements, Neres is the ideal late-in-the-window addition. No need to panic.
