Manchester United are finally close to agreeing a mega-money deal with Ajax to sign Antony.
The 22-year-old winger is top of Erik ten Hag' s shopping list with five days of the summer transfer window remaining, and the Red Devils have taken a significant step towards signing him. According to multiple reports, United are now on the verge of striking a full agreement with Ajax, who've maintained that they wouldn't sell Antony for less than €100million (£84m).
In somewhat relieving news, the eye-watering fee includes add-ons, as Ten Hag's pleas to bolster his squad before Thursday's 11pm deadline appear to have been answered. Antony has been pushing for the move and desperately wants to leave Amsterdam after two impressive campaigns. Mirror Football exclusively reported that the Brazil international is now on strike at his current club.
Ajax have been without their star man for the past two games and travelled to Utrecht again without him, earning a 2-0 win to maintain their position top of the Eredivisie. Pre-match, manager Alfred Schreuder declared to ESPN : "The Antony situation hasn't changed compared to last week. We discuss it internally every day, also with the player. He reports himself at the club and we speak. But I want to focus on the players we have here, for now Antony is not important."
On Friday, the player in question spoke about Ajax's treatment of his situation in a bombshell interview. "Since February of this year, my agents came to Amsterdam to inform Ajax of my desire to leave the club to face new challenge and that some interested clubs would arrive and with them, certainly a great offer," Antony explained to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano.
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"In June of this year, I interrupted my vacation and came personally to inform the managers of Ajax, including new coach, about my wish to leave and that they should consider this possibility, because it was a project for 2 seasons. During the window months, meetings continued and I also received a proposal from Ajax for contract renewal. I made it clear once again: I want to leave."
Ten Hag confirmed following the Red Devils' 1-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday that United will be working right up until the end of deadline day in order to get deals over the line. "We stick to the plan," the Dutchman declared. "If a good player is available we will strike. We will be alert until the last second of the window."
