Ajax winger Antony has reportedly been high on Erik ten Hag’s wanted list at Manchester United for several weeks. The Telegraph reported in March he was a top target, and Brazilian outlet UOL Esporte this week report Antony is keen to leave Ajax, amid interest from United.
As much as Ten Hag may want to sign Antony, he is well aware it won’t be easy.
Speaking to De Telegraaf earlier this week, Ten Hag said: “If Antony would go… it would be a blow for Ajax because in their current squad there is nobody to replace him.”
For this reason, Ajax could resist selling Antony, and that’s why Manchester United should listen to Ten Hag’s words, and offer a swap deal to get a deal for the winger over the line, giving Ajax the replacement they will have to look for.
Offer a swap deal to get Antony
United could have to pay somewhere between £35 – 60 million to land Antony. But as Ten Hag points out, the money alone may not be a motivating factor – they need a replacement. Manchester United may have one, even two.
Offering Amad on loan for the season may not move the needle much financially, but it could provide Ajax with an instant replacement.
Another option is Facundo Pellistri, who could be a totally different player in a winning side, as he has shown for Uruguay, compared to his stint at relegation bound Alaves in Spain.
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The Dutch league is one where many talents have developed into top quality players over the years. Antony himself joined as an unproven Brazilian teenager, just 19 at the time, with no international caps to his name.
He cost £13 million, less than United paid for Amad, and slightly more than United paid for Pellistri, both of who are already senior internationals.
One, if not both of these players, may benefit from a loan move if Antony arrives, so offering one of them into the deal would be solving a problem for United anyway.
United would be bringing in a player who is ready for a step up, and sending out a loan a player who needs another step or two to get there. Pellistri in particular would benefit from game time ahead of the World Cup.
Ajax may end up having to cash in on Antony one way or another, and if they have the chance to land a potential replacement for the season, into the mix, it could make a deal much easier to take.