Everton are reportedly interested in making a move for Ajax winger David Neres with the Toffees looking to turn what has so far been an underwhelming campaign around.
What’s the story?
According to Jeunes Footeux, Everton manager Rafa Benitez is interested in bringing the Ajax star to Merseyside this month in a bid to turn a disappointing season around.
The Toffees are sat in 15th having played 18 Premier League games this campaign and need extra firepower on the flanks with talisman Richarlison still sidelined.
Moreover, the Brazilian’s future at Goodison Park is unclear, with the 24-year-old reported to be a potential Kylian Mbappe replacement at PSG during the summer.
However, the winger is still an Everton player and could soon be joined by his national teammate Neres in the Premier League.
Bye-bye Richarlison
Neres, also 24, has been with the Dutch champions for five years after joining from Brazilian giants Sao Paulo in January 2017.
In that time, Neres has managed to score 47 goals and register 41 assists in 180 appearances. The Brazilian was also a major contributor in Ajax’s famous run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2018/19, scoring against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
The winger, who plays predominantly on the right, has scored four goals so far this season in 20 appearances in the Eredivisie and Champions League combined, as well as contributing two assists.
However, his most fruitful campaign to date was the 2017/18 season in which Neres scored 15 goals and registered 14 assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.
As a result, signing him could finally give Rafa Benitez the excuse to let Richarlison slide or better still, arm him with the firepower necessary to improve their wilted attack.
Not only have Richarlison’s performances dwindled but his attitude has also been questionable, reacting angrily to being substituted earlier this term and showing a petulant attitude right throughout his time in Merseyside.
It was the same result last February when Noel Whelan savaged him for something similar:
“You can’t take away he’s an exceptional player and he’s a gifted player. What you have got there is a bit of an attitude problem and it’s kind of a spoilt child attitude about him,” he began.
“You saw him coming off the field, he’s got that face on and he’s a bit petulant and childish in his behaviour, shrugging off somebody on the sideline, mumbling to himself. When you’ve got great players like that, there’s a certain professionalism that you’ve got to bring to the side as well and you just see those sort of little weaknesses in players.”
Furthermore, Benitez’s side have had rotten luck this campaign regarding injuries with star players Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison both facing respective spells on the sidelines.
Moreover, right-winger Andros Townsend recently missed games through injury and the Merseyside club could do with more options out wide, particularly on the right.
Although Neres’ goals tally isn’t the highest, the £18m-rated winger is an exciting prospect and would offer Everton a much-needed alternative in the attack. He could also be Richarlison’s saving grace.
In other news, Everton have been linked with this well-known forward…
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