Leicester City are leading Olympique Lyon in the race to sign David Neres, who is set to leave Ajax this summer.
According to a report from Ajax Showtime, Leicester City are in pole position to sign David Neres. The Ajax winger is expected to leave the club within the remaining days of the summer transfer window, putting an end to a long-running transfer saga.
Neres was earlier tipped to join Olympique Lyon, now coached by former Ajax manager Peter Bosz. But Leicester City are on the verge of hijacking the deal, with the player being identified as an ideal option for Brendan Rodgers, who is determined to add more depth in the attacking department.
Neres’ likely departure from Ajax comes in the aftermath of the club’s recent acquisition of Mohamed Daramy from FC Copenhagen. The Dutch champions have also brought in Steven Berghuis from Feyenoord, as it is apparent that head coach Erik ten Haag is keen on moving on from the Brazilian, whose status at the club has deteriorated over the past 12 months.
The 24-year-old had only featured in a little over 1,100 minutes of league football last season, scoring just three goals. His overall game-time has constantly decreased since his breakthrough campaign of 2017/18, though it is fair to point out that injuries haven’t been kind to the former Sao Paulo prodigy.
Leicester City, though, are prepared to hand Neres an opportunity to revive his career after a couple of difficult years at Ajax. There is already a growing concern at King Power Stadium over the club’s lack of depth at the left-wing slot. Harvey Barnes is the only viable option, which may not be enough in such a long season.
David Neres, to that end, can prove to be an ideal alternative for the young Englishman. However, he is not the only option for the Foxes, who are seemingly intent on striking a deal to sign Dwight McNeil. The Burnley star represents a better option due to his experience in English football, though he may cost a fortune.
Having already brought in talented players such as Patson Daka and Boubakary Soumare, Leicester City certainly won’t be hoping to spend too much on a backup for Barnes. So at the end of the day, a lot will depend on how much the clubs demand, for the services of McNeil and Neres respectively, though the Foxes must move swiftly as well, with only a couple of days remaining before the transfer window slams shut.
