Antony
Antony

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has dropped a major update over Manchester United’s potential move for Ajax winger Antony. The Red Devils have been budging over deal for Antony, but Romano has revealed that they have finally found a breakthrough. United’s new gaffer, Erik ten Hag has requested the signing of his former associate from Ajax as he wants to bolster his attack before the window shuts.

United have started their new campaign under Ten Hag catastrophically, losing two out of their first two league games. After an opening day defeat to Brighton at home, United were hammered by Brentford 4-0 in their next game to pile up misery on Ten Hag. Add to it, United’s ailing business in the transfer window hasn’t helped either, but the picture could change after their acquisition of Real Madrid’s Casemiro.

Antony
Antony could soon be on his way to Manchester United as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Credits: Twitter

United pick pace in Antony negotiations after Casemiro signing

Just when everybody had thought United would end up with the three signings they have made this summer, they almost wrapped up a deal for Casemiro within 48 hours. United struck a €70 million deal for the midfielder, with another €11 million in add-ons included. And even before the 30-year-old completed his medicals and penned a four-year contract, United have advanced in their talks for Antony.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils have approached Ajax who are unwilling to part ways with Antony. The Eredivisie side has already sold as many as six of their stars this summer which include the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Sebastian Haller, Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez, who joined United.

The Italian journalist through a tweet reported, “Manchester United are in contact with Antony agents as deal now depends on Ajax decision: key days ahead while Cody Gakpo’s camp is also in direct contact with Man Utd since 2 weeks. Gakpo, always been in United list – also, he has same agents as Erik ten Hag.”

According to multiple reports, Ajax have rejected an opening bid of €80 million from United for their 22-year-old winger and that the Red Devils are ready to push again with another offer, amounting up to €90 million. While Romano has also added that United are in close contacts with PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo, who is touted as Antony’s alternative by Ten Hag.

Gakpo was in some form last season, racking up 21 goals and 15 assists in 47 appearances for PSV. The winger has been linked with United for some time now, but Ten Hag prefers his former player Antony who scored 22 goals and bagged 20 assists in 79 games under him.

Meanwhile, Antony too has putting pressure on Ajax to strike a deal with United as soon as possible, after missing the club’s training session and the subsequent game against Sparta Rotterdam. He too wants a reunion with Ten Hag after Lisandro Martinez who was snapped by the former Ajax boss for €57 million earlier in the window.