Antony Man Utd transfer facilitated by Chelsea's Ziyech stance

FT Desk

21 Aug 2022 13:19 BST
3 min read

Antony's protracted transfer from Ajax to Manchester United could be helped by the fact that Chelsea have transfer listed Hakim Ziyech.

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Erik ten Hag has identified the wide areas as some of the most important to reinforce since arriving at Old Trafford this summer.

So far, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have occupied the two positions on the wings, but results have been poor with United's Premier League campaign opening with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and 4-0 loss to Brentford.

That Ten Hag and Antony connection 🤯pic.twitter.com/Z2LnrAPkvm
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 21, 2022

Antony won the Dutch domestic double under Ten hag at Ajax in 2021, meanwhile, and United are hopeful of reuniting them before the end of the current transfer window, ideally for less than the Dutch side's €100 million asking price.

Antony was absent from Ajax's meeting with Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday with Steven Bergwijn taking his place in the starting line-up; the Brazilian excluded after missing team training on Friday and Saturday.

Antony can't confirm Ajax stay

"No, to be quite honest I can't," Antony had replied when asked by Dutch journalist Mike Verweij before the game to confirm if he'd still be with Ajax by start of September.

Ajax appear to have softened their stance on the Brazilian leaving Johan Cruyff Arena - for the right price - and Ziyech's status at Chelsea could be part of the reason why.

The Moroccan winger has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, and he is interested in a return to Ajax according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Ziyech previously scored 49 goals and assisted some 81 more in 165 games with Ajax between 2016 and 2020.

Ajax would be getting a potent winger as Antony's replacement. Ranked at €23m by Football Transfers' sophisticated inhouse algorithm, he would also likely come in at a fraction of Antony's fee, whether or not the Brazilian sets United back €100m.