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Arsenal are lining up a move for Ajax winger David Neres, per The Sun.
The Dutch club have a number of exceptional youngsters and the 22-year-old is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs.
What’s the word?
Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea have also been named as potential suitors for Neres, who has enjoyed something of a breakthrough season at Ajax in 2018-19.
He has scored 12 goals this season while laying on 15 assists, including goals against Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League.
Indeed, Ajax have progressed to the quarter-finals of the elite European competition this term, and Arsenal are now keeping tabs on the youngster, whose form was rewarded with his first Brazil cap in March.
The Sun claim that both the Gunners and United are prepared to go head-to-head over his signature, which could cost around £45million.
Ajax could see something of a firesale this summer; Frenkie De Jong has already agreed to join Barcelona in the summer, while Matthijs De Ligt is perhaps the most coveted central defender in Europe.
Mkhitaryan’s replacement?
Neres could be the perfect man to replace Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Arsenal.
Where the Armenia international has lost the yard of pace that made him so dangerous during his days at Borussia Dortmund, Neres is lightning quick and also has an eye for goal that the former Manchester United star lacks.
Indeed, across 49 games for Arsenal, Mkhitaryan has scored a mere nine goals.
Neres also has the versatility required to play on both wings, through the middle, or even up front.
Unai Emery is sure to be drooling over the prospect of linking Neres up with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, another sprint king, and Alexandre Lacazette at the Emirates Stadium.
The priority must be shifting Mkhitaryan out, then, as the club looks to make room for the Ajax star.