Who is the next Ajax sensation that Tottenham are trying to sign? Everything you need to know

Scout Report – David Neres

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in a move for Ajax attacker David Neres, who at 20 years of age has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the Eredivisie. Despite having joined the Dutch giants earlier this year, the player could be on his way to the Premier League in January. Mauricio Pochettino is understood to be quite impressed with the youngster’s potential and is keen on bringing him to the North London side.

Neres is currently Ajax’s top scorer this season, having amassed 8 goals while providing 9 assists. He does seem like an interesting prospect and let’s take a closer look at his profile.

History

Born in 1997 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Neres was a part of his hometown club’s youth setup, having joined them when he was 10-years-old. He gradually made a mark for himself and rose through the ranks at the club. In 2016, he established himself as a mainstay for the side in that year’s U-20 Copa Libertadores.

However, that was when he suffered a shoulder injury, due to which he had to remain sidelined for a while. In August that year though, Neres received promotion to the main squad and was quite impressive, which eventually attracted attention from Ajax.

He joined the Dutch club earlier in January this year and has steadily made his way up the pecking order. This season, he has been in prolific form but it remains to be seen if he continues with them or chooses to move.

Playing Style

Neres’ main strength lies in making key passes and dribbling. He can dribble his way out of even the toughest of defences and that is a remarkable attribute for a forward. He has a knack for goalscoring and is adept at passing as well.

The 20-year-old boasts of excellent vision and his passes often end up finding the right teammate at the right time. He seems to have a penchant for cutting inside to make incisive runs and prefers playing short yet quick passes, which ensures fluidity in his game. However, the player does lack defensive contribution.

Neres’ Future

With interest from Tottenham, Neres could be tempted to move to the Premier League. That said, he must bear in mind that it is unlikely Pochettino would deploy him as a regular starter. He will have to fight for game time and considering how Spurs are filled with young attacking talents, the Brazilian will have to be at his best all the time.

If he does make the move though, Neres’ long-term potential will know no bounds since Pochettino is quite skilled at developing young talents.