Red Devils offered shock Antony transfer solution as £40m proposal attracted skepticism

Manchester United have been presented with a potential solution to their ongoing Antony problem as the January transfer window approaches.

The Red Devils agreed a package worth £86m (€103m, $108m) to sign the Brazilian from Ajax in August 2022 after manager Erik ten Hag insisted he wanted his former pupil at Old Trafford. But the move to Manchester United was not worth it and the Brazilian became a figure of fun and a stick to criticize Ten Hag for his transfer failures.

Since his arrival, Antony has scored just 12 goals and just five assists in 86 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions – making a mockery of the huge fee they paid to recruit him.

Reports suggest United are prepared to allow the 24-year-old to leave the club for £40m (€47.8m, $52m) in a bid to get him off their books in 2025, but even this fee can turn off any potential suitor. with many fans on social media saying he’s not worth that much.

Now the Dutch football expert Mike Verweij said in De Telegraaf Podcast that he can see Antony returning to Ajax on loan in January, provided the Premier League side cover the majority of his £200,000-a-week salary.

“Ajax is looking for a left winger, a creative midfielder and possibly a right winger, that’s clear. It could be on loan or a very cheap player. If you can lend Antônio cheap,” said Verweij.

“His salary is probably already quite high for Ajax. But maybe United want to get rid of him and rent him to Ajax (cheaply). So that could be an option.

“Antony showed in the Eredivisie that he can do it. Maybe he can build some trust here. In the Eredivisie, you quickly outpace your opponents as a winger. I wouldn’t even think it would be such a crazy option.”

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Ten Hag keeps faith in Antônio

Despite all this talk about Antony leaving United, which he might eventually do, manager Ten Hag is still being patient with the Brazilian international – despite the club hierarchy calling the transfer a disaster.

TEAMtalk understands that Ten Hag believes Antony can still do well at Old Trafford and, incidentally, he is also not worried about Joshua Zirkzee’s slow start to life in the summer against the Red Devils.

Indeed, following United’s goalless draw with Aston Villa earlier this month, Ten Hag praised Antony’s impact off the bench at Villa Park.

“We created a lot of chances in our seven games, but we have to step up. We have to take into account that (Rasmus) Hojlund is back, he is still in full form. But others are moving forward. I was impressed with (Marcus) Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho is also very good and Antony at the end,” he said.

However, in September the former Ajax manager emphasized that Antony – whose contract runs until 2027 – must “earn the right” to play for the club.

“He is impatient. He wants to play. But in top football there are laws. You choose the team that has the best chance of winning the game, the one that has the best dynamics, the best chemistry. Players have to fight for their positions,” said Ten Hag.

“The other players are doing very well – they are contributing. He has to overcome them. He has to earn the right to train. When players do the right thing in training, when their attitude is good, when they show performance in training, they will earn the right to play.”

Regardless, Antony, who is behind the likes of Rashford, Garnacho and Amad Diallo in the attacking pecking order, has entered uncertain times at United.

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Former Bayern Munich and Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will become England’s next permanent manager in January 2025 after signing an 18-month contract with the Three Lions.

The German would be United’s main target if Ten Hag was sent off, but the Football Association’s “swift”, “confidential” and “simple” approach convinced him to take the job.

Elsewhere, Brentford boss Thomas Frank refused to put an end to speculation he could join United if Ten Hag was sacked.

Although he repeated that he is “very happy” at the Bees, the Dane – who has done an excellent job for the London club – said it is “very difficult to predict the future”.

Finally, United are said to be keeping an eye on Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies – who will be a free agent next summer.

However, Real Madrid have a long-term interest in the Canadian left-back and could be in pole position to secure the 23-year-old’s signature.