Manchester United target Antony may not play for Ajax this weekend and it’s being ‘discussed internally’, reports Fabrizio Romano.
The lowdown
United have signed three new players so far this summer – centre-back Lisandro Martinez, left-back Tyrell Malacia and midfielder Christian Eriksen.
They have agreed a deal for a fourth in Real Madrid no. 6 Casemiro as they look to strengthen a struggling squad.
The Red Devils also offered £67million for Antony this week, but saw the bid rejected by Erik ten Hag’s former club and have since been linked with a cheaper alternative in Cody Gakpo.
The latest
Romano tweeted that United ‘plan to try again’ for Antony after their offer was rebuffed.
‘They feel that Antony really wants’ to make the move to Old Trafford, and that could work in their favour.
The journalist has ‘been told’ that the Brazilian may be left out of the starting line up for Ajax’s trip to Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday. It’s ‘still [being] discussed internally’.
If United can’t land the 22-year-old, they may indeed turn to a ‘cheaper option’ in PSV Eindhoven’s Gakpo.
The verdict
United need to be wary of paying over the odds for Antony.
His record last season – 12 goals and ten assists in 33 appearances – was clearly impressive, and he’s started the season in good shape too with four goal contributions in his first three matches.
In justifying the potential outlay, United could also point to the fact that he has nine caps for the top-ranked international side Brazil.
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But the step-up from the Eredivisie to the Premier League is significant, with the former ranking seventh in the UEFA coefficient and the latter topping the pile.
Some players will struggle to make the leap, as United found when they signed Memphis Depay for £31million in 2015 and sold him for around half the price just 18 months later.
