Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk are close to signing David Neres, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano. The player has attracted interest from Newcastle United in the Premier League as well, but a move to Shakhtar seems to be more likely.
No transfer fee has been revealed as of yet, but the deal is set to be completed in the coming hours. Everton were also linked with him, but nothing came of their interest in the player.
David Neres set to leave Ajax after five years
The Brazilian joined Ajax from Sao Paulo, his boyhood club. The Dutch champions paid €22 million for him in 2017, and he has featured 180 times across all competitions for them since.
He has produced a steady return of goals and assists during his time in Amsterdam, scoring 47 and assisting 41. The 24-year-old’s contract expires in June 2023, which means Ajax would have had to sell him in the summer to avoid losing him for free later.
David Neres is valued at €20 million on Transfermarkt, and it seems like Shakhtar will pay a fee close to that amount for him. They have instead decided to let him go now and sign a replacement now.
Steven Bergwijn is the man they are after to replace Neres. The Tottenham Hotspur man has reached an agreement on personal terms with his former academy club. Ajax have also submitted a bid for Bergwijn, and it is only a matter of time before he replaces David Neres in the team.