Manchester United are edging closer to signing Antony from Ajax, it has been claimed. The Brazil international is on Erik ten Hag’s radar, regardless of what happens with Cristiano Ronaldo’s future. And though a deal isn’t straightforward, the Red Devils are hoping they can make the 22-year-old their fourth signing of the summer. They’ve lost Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood may never play for the club again and Ronaldo still wants out – despite holding face to face talks with Ten Hag at their Carrington training complex on Tuesday.
So far, Ajax have been unwilling to let Antony leave Amsterdam behind. With eight goals and four assists from 23 Eredivisie matches last term, the Samba star is viewed as an important player – both for now and the future. And Ajax are also reluctant to lose another key player, having seen the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui all jump ship.
Now, though, Forbes journalist Sam Pilger has claimed United are ‘edging closer’ to signing Antony after Ajax decided to lower their asking price. With less than two weeks from the start of the 2022-23 Premier League season, top-flight clubs are still going all out to sign transfer targets. Jadon Sancho has operated there during pre-season and impressed, notching against the likes of Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
But United want options and Antony would give their attack a new dimension, especially given his vast potential. Liverpool have also been linked with the Ajax winger, too. Yet a move to Anfield looks unlikely with the Reds spending most of their transfer budget on a deal for Darwin Nunez, who has touched down from Benfica. If United do sign Antony, he’d become the club’s fourth signing from Ajax over the past decade. In 2014, the Red Devils raided their Eredivisie counterparts for Daley Blind – who had impressed at the World Cup in Brazil that year.