Ajax have attempted to further sway away Manchester United from their winger Antony. The Dutch side now want a mammoth £84 million for Antony if United are to sign him this summer.
Antony tops the list of transfer targets set by his former boss Erik ten Hag at his new club Manchester United. While the manager has asked his club to go all out for the Brazilian, Ajax too have been stern in their defense.
The Dutch champions have already lost five players this transfer window in Lisandro Martinez, Sebastian Haller, Ryan Gravenberch, Noussair Mazraoui and Nicolas Tagliafico.
Ten Hag’s successor at Ajax, Alfred Schreuder has firmly stated that he now wants to keep this group intact with no further outgoings. The club as a result have hiked Antony’s price-tag in order to avoid him from leaving.
United unlikely to fork out the ‘extra £16 million’ for Antony
Ajax have already lost one of their players, Lisandro Martinez to United for £51 million and hence no longer wish to send Antony to Old Trafford.
On the other hand, Ten Hag highly rates Antony who he feels will bring a lot to his new project at United. Further on, he could add a solid depth to his options of wide players which include Rashford, Sancho and Elanga.
Antony was brought in to fill in the void left by Hakim Ziyech who left for Chelsea in the summer of 2020. The Brazilian has had hand in 42 goal contributions [20 goals and 22 assists] in just 78 appearances for the club, so far proving his worth.
Ajax, as a result don’t want to lose Antony and added another £16 million to their initial asking price of £68 for the winger. United, who were already taken aback by his £68m value, have shown no interest in paying the inflated price of £84m.
Schreuder too in his latest presser asserted, “Internally we have agreed that we want to keep the current squad together. Nobody wants to sell him… Antony is working well. I don’t have the feeling that he’s busy with a transfer.”
However, reports suggest that the player’s agents were in Manchester to negotiate a deal despite Schreuder’s comments. But United too have conveyed they have no intention of forking out £84m.
Ten Hag has so far welcomed three signings, out of which two arrived from the Eredivisie. Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia joined from Ajax and Feyenoord respectively, whereas Christian Eriksen was snapped up as a free agent.
The manager still wants more new faces in a bid to overhaul the current squad which failed to finish in the top four last season.