Ajax set for shock swoop after 'reaching agreement' with Al Hilal's Marcos Leonardo

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marcos-leonardo/OW4BpjD0/"]Marcos Leonardo[/a], 23, joined Saudi Professional League side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/al-hilal/hxxcePl9/"]Al Hilal[/a] in 2023 and has scored 48 goals in 82 appearances for the club, but is reportedly looking to return to Europe.[/p][p]After rumours spread of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a] having started negotiating for the Brazilian striker, [a href="https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/voetbal/ajax-heeft-goede-hoop-op-komst-braziliaan-marcos-leonardo-23/158611505.html"][i][b]De Telegraaf[/b][/i][/a] reported on Sunday that the club and player have broadly reached an agreement on a contract until 2031. The Dutch newspaper reported that Ajax will continue negotiations with Al Hilal and that the coming days will be "crucial".[/p][image alt="Marcos Leonardo's career stats" id="a184347d-7a89-406d-96ff-bf574db96d1d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="1f52817d-8709-45cf-b31c-40e3cc45dc13" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Marcos Leonardo's market value is set at €19.6 million according to [i]Flashscore[/i]. The Brazilian has been convinced to move to Ajax by technical director Jordi Cruyff and has acknowledged that he'll earn less than he currently does in Saudi Arabia.[/p][p]The 23-year-old Brazilian, who's also gathered interest from the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-porto/S2NmScGp/"]Porto[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fiorentina/Q3A3IbXH/"]Fiorentina[/a], joined Al Hilal from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benfica/zBkyuyRI/"]Benfica[/a] for €40 million in 2023, just nine months after moving from Santos to Benfica for €22 million.[/p][h2]Rebuild mode[/h2][p]Ajax, who are undergoing a rebuild under Jordi Cruyff, are also working on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-eredivisie-ajax-enter-race-for-moroccan-world-cup-standout-azzedine-ounahi/QcxzepEs/"]the transfer[/a] of Morocco standout [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a], according to Fabrizio Romano.[/p][p]The Amsterdam club, who acquired [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/caio-henrique/dr5D8pxI/"]Caio Henrique[/a] from Monaco and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blind-daley/U5mPqlh6/"]Daley Blind[/a] on a free transfer earlier in July, gained funds and salary room after selling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/steur-sean/M7pUtmE7/"]Sean Steur[/a] to Newcastle United for €27 million and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/akpom-chuba/r3FhGWO6/"]Chuba Akpom[/a] to Ipswich Town for close to €10 million, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-den-boomen-branco/nmGmcgb6/"]Branco van den Boomen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/weghorst-wout/tpWMDFoL/"]Wout Weghorst[/a] left on free transfers.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/transfer-news-live-tracker-updates/8QqUWm3n/"]Follow the latest transfer news LIVE via Flashscore[/a][/h2][embed guid="605928c6-8f15-4e90-927b-34090e39cb13" url="https://x.com/Inside_020/status/2076257413741662467?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]