Newcastle are close to completing the signing of Sean Steur from Ajax for around £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 has graduated to Barcelona, 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 newly 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 Netherland’s Under-19 international was swiftly recognised as one of the Eredivisie’s brightest young talents.

Despite his impending arrival, Newcastle continue to pursue Freiburg’s Switzerland midfeilder, Johan Manzambi, who is available for around £51m and have already signed the former Hoffenheim winger, Bazoumana Touré for £43m. Touré has been bought to replace Anthony Gordon following the England winger’s move to Barcelona in May.