Man United have ended their chase of Ajax winger Antony – at least for the time being…
Erik ten Hag’s transfer plan from day one has been clear. He’s looked to surround himself with familiarity and comfort. No doubt to ease himself into a job that he plans to undertake for the long haul.
Tyrell Malacia he knew from his time in the Eredivisie, while Ten Hag has worked with both Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen (albeit briefly) in some capacity.
It’s why a Red Devils move to sign Ajax winger Antony made perfect sense. Again, the Brazilian is a player who flourished under Ten Hag over in the Netherlands.
The fees constantly mentioned for Antony seem to be in excess of £70m. Obviously, that represents a large chunk of the budget, in a transfer window where the Old Trafford club have been firm in their belief that they will not overpay for anyone.
Well, well-informed journalist, Pilib De Brun, has given us an update on the Antony Saga. Unfortunately, it’s sad news for fans of the Brazilian.
Apparently, United have ‘given up’ on their pursuit of the 22-year-old due to Ajax’s asking price. The Eredivisie champions have already lost some key players this term. They’re seemingly determined to not lose anyone else.
As things stand, there’s a ‘slim chance’ this move could be revisited, but it’s deemed ‘off the agenda’, at least for the time being.
I really do believe a new attacker of some description should be close to the top of the priority list. Cristiano Ronaldo’s future remains up in the air, while outside of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial, United don’t really have a wealth of senior options available up top.
Antony, who contributed directly to 22 goals last term, would have been a nice option to have. However, the Old Trafford club should now turn their attention to other potential targets.
Benjamin Sesko has been mentioned over the last few days, though again, he’s young and relatively inexperienced.
Personally, I’d like to see the club go out there and sign a proven attacker who’ll guarantee goals and assists on a weekly basis. Those are hard to come by though…
Do you think Man United will sign a winger this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
Man.Utd should strike the iron when hot by selling Ronaldo to Juventus as now they are looking for a replacement for Paul Pogba as he is injured and will not be available for two months. Maybe he would like to return.