Why Man Utd should sign Asensio and not Antony

FT Desk

26 Aug 2022 09:00 BST
4 min read

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio in recent days as they look to strengthen their attacking options before the close of the transfer window.

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It’s been reported that the Red Devils have been offered the Spaniard for a €30 million fee, but are weighing up the option as their primary target is Ajax’s Brazilian winger Antony.

Erik ten Hag prefers to bring Antony to Old Trafford having worked with him at the Johan Cruyff Arena and seeing first-hand just how good Antony can be, with the 22-year-old having room to get better.

United have already done business with Real Madrid this summer, having signed Casemiro for a €70 million fee, and there may be one more deal possible in the coming days.

Asensio deal could work in the short run

A deal for Asensio makes sense in the short-run – United would be getting a player for their attack in a deal that’s much easier to complete, especially with so little time left in the window.

It’s unclear whether Ajax will sell Antony: they were willing to for the right price, but a lot of it is dependent on them getting a replacement, they target Hakim Ziyech.

Ajax want Ziyech’s return and for him to take up Antony’s position, but Chelsea are demanding a fee close to the €44 million they paid for him in 2020, which Ajax are refusing to meet.

Ziyech himself prefers a Premier League stay as he wants to prove himself in the Premier League, as Tottenham and Antonio Conte show interest in the Moroccan.

Carlo Ancelotti tells @MovistarFutbol on Marco Asensio: “I think Asensio is looking to see if he can leave”. 🚨⚪️ #RealMadrid

“If he doesn't leave, in September he will be 100% Real Madrid and my player”. pic.twitter.com/DWEl9r54Ya
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 25, 2022

That complicates matters for Manchester United: Ajax are more than happy to keep Antony and they know he’ll be motivated after the transfer window as there is a World Cup around the corner.

Additionally, Ajax are demanding a fee upwards of €90 million for Antony, which is probably a bit too steep for United at the minute and they’re better off investing in other areas of the pitch.

Antony will still be around in future transfer windows: probably as a better, more-rounded footballer and United can go for him then – it’s also possible that paying a fee that high will be more justifiable then.

Asensio is in the final year of his contract and Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed the player is willing to leave Real Madrid, which will mean this is an easy negotiation to complete and can be done in the final days of the window.

Real Madrid and Manchester United already have a good relationship having done a fair bit of business in recent times, and that could work in United’s favour in the coming days.