How Man Utd can move for Antony AND Gakpo
FT Desk
- 21 Aug 2022 22:15 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United are now setting their sights on a double swoop for both Antony and Cody Gakpo in the final days of the summer transfer window.
It was previously believed that Gakpo had been lined up as an alternative for Antony, due to Ajax's high asking price for their star.
But according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf the PSV winger is not United's second choice, but a transfer target in his own right.
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The next 48 hours may prove to be key for both potential signings, particularly in the case of Antony.
It is by no means clear whether United will meet Ajax's valuation of 100 million, a sign that the Eredivisie giants are extremely reluctant to part with the Brazil ace.
The Red Devils have so far gone only as high as 80m in a bid that was rejected by Ajax on Wednesday, but they are planning one final push for the transfer after Antony was left out of the weekend game against Sparta Rotterdam.
Gakpo, meanwhile, would be the more cost-effective option, with PSV setting their demands at an initial 50m. But the Dutch side will not discuss any transfer before Wednesday, when they play for a place in the Champions League group stage against Scottish giants Rangers.
How can Man Utd afford both stars?
United's poor start to the 2022-23 season, which has kicked off with consecutive defeats to Brighton and Brentford appears to have stung the club and its owners into action.
De Telegraaf additionally reports that the Glazer family has sanctioned further spending at the end of the window after seeing the team's limitations painfully exposed in these opening matches.
That newly liberal approach to finances opened the door for Casemiro's arrival from Real Madrid on generous terms for both the player and his former club, and it is what will allow United to chase both young Netherlands-based stars in the coming days.
Prior to this week United had spent a total of 72m in the summer market, on Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia, significantly less than all of their Premier League rivals.
That sum will be more than doubled if they can add the signing of Antony and/or Gakpo to the already confirmed deal for Casemiro, though whether it will be enough to pull the club out of its funk remains to be seen.
