Newcastle are close to completing the signing of Sean Steur from Ajax for about £23m. The two-footed central midfielder is only 18 but has been widely hyped as the Amsterdam club’s brightest emerging midfield talent since Frenkie de Jong.
While De Jong left for Barcelona in 2019, Steur, who can operate as a No 6 or a No 8, seems almost certainly Tyneside bound. At St James’ Park he is likely to start next season competing with Lewis Miley to fill Sandro Tonali’s old central midfield role and will be given time to adjust to the Premier League’s physicality.
With Tonali having completed a transfer to Tottenham that could ultimately be worth £100m to Newcastle, Eddie Howe is rebuilding his side. Although Steur began last season in Ajax’s youth team before graduating to the first XI and ultimately making 25 senior appearances, the Netherlands Under-19s international was swiftly recognised as one of the Eredivisie’s brightest young talents.
Despite his impending arrival, Newcastle continue to pursue the Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi, who is available from Freiburg for around £51m, and have signed the winger Bazoumana Touré from Hoffenheim for £43m. Touré has been bought to replace Anthony Gordon following the England winger’s move to Barcelona in May.
