AFC Ajax are closely monitoring Colombian defender Néider Parra. The 21-year-old centre-back from Atlético Nacional has been compared by a source to Davinson Sánchez, who also moved from Nacional to Ajax.
The interest follows a summer of significant defensive changes at the club. Josip Sutalo joined Lazio on loan, Ko Itakura returned to Borussia Mönchengladbach and Ahmetcan Kaplan made his loan to NEC Nijmegen permanent. Ajax brought in Thilo Kehrer on loan and welcomed back Daley Blind, though the latter is still recovering from injury.
Kehrer's role
Parra's potential move to Ajax could be linked to Kehrer's season. The German defender has stated he is open to extending his stay in Amsterdam. "I would be open to extending my stay at the Johan Cruijff ArenA," Kehrer said. If Ajax can secure him permanently, the need for another right-footed centre-back might lessen, given the presence of Aaron Bouwman.
International competition
Interest in Parra is not exclusive to Ajax. Clubs like FC Porto, Palmeiras, Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouth have also sent scouts to watch the Colombian. The young defender broke through at Atlético Nacional, the club where Sánchez made 45 appearances before his move to Ajax in 2016.
The Amsterdam side currently sit fifth in the Eredivisie with 14 points from seven games. They have scored 21 goals and conceded nine so far this campaign. Their next fixture is a home match against 11th-placed NEC Nijmegen on 10 October. The full Ajax squad and upcoming fixtures are available on our site.
Despite recent arrivals, the club remains alert in the market. The development of young players like Dies Janse, who signed a contract extension, and Youri Baas is being closely watched within manager Michel Sanchez's squad.
The report in full is at sports.yahoo.com
