David Neres
The Brazilian is what I would call the “middle ground” of transfers Borussia Dortmund could make to replace Christian Pulisic. The Brazilian winger has been a target for Dortmund from 2017. Ajax were reported to have rejected a 30 Million euro bid from Borussia Dortmund back in the summer, and the player confirmed interest from Borussia Dortmund back in November, stating that both Roma and Dortmund made offers for him. Let’s take a look at why the clubs were so interested in the young winger.
Last season, Neres was responsible for finding the back of the net 14 times for Ajax in the Eredivisie. This season, his stats are similarly impressive with 2 goals and 6 assists to his name. Just like most players on this list, pace is a major attribute to his game.
Neres has an affinity for through balls and crosses, often able to create chances for the strikers and other attacking players he plays with, his rate of assists this season a testament to that. His eye for a goal is a major strength of his play. At the midway point of last season, Neres’ goal tally stood at 8 goals in the league with a shot accuracy of 72%, a very solid statistic for such a young player.
He is also versatile and is able to play on both wings, which would once again suit Lucien Favre’s style of play with the wingers in the lineup often swapping sides, as aforementioned. His style of play isn’t perfect however. Like Nicolas Pépé, Neres has to improve on the defensive aspect of his game.
With so much interest in the past for the player, it would be unsurprising for Borussia Dortmund to have another go at trying to pry Neres away from Ajax. His current Market valuation stands at 25 million euros, just 5 million euros under Dortmund’s initial rejected bid this past May.
Despite this, however, I believe Neres could be one of the more affordable options on this list. The main problem here would be convincing Neres to leave Ajax. The player has stated he is committed to staying at the club a little while longer, and his signing of a new contract with the Dutch club until 2022 is evidence of this.
Neres is committed to his development as a player, and Dortmund would have to convince the Ajax star that Dortmund is the right place for him to take his game to the next level. I do believe that Neres would be a fantastic addition to Borussia Dortmund, and if he signs he will further a tradition of Brazilian players wearing the colors of black and yellow.