Ten Hag has found the solution to Man Utd's Antony problem

Stuart Telford

• 6 Feb 2024 10:09 GMT
• 3 min read

Antony has failed to contribute a goal or assist to Manchester United's Premier League cause this season, but Erik ten Hag appears to have found a solution…

Antony's form this season could hardly be more disappointing.

Goals against Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona last term augured well following the Brazilian's €95 million arrival from Ajax, but this year he has completed more 360-degree turns than he has direct goal-involvements.

There has been speculation that United would dip back into the transfer market to replace their problematic winger, but Alejandro Garnacho's emergence has made that unnecessary.

Garnacho graduated from the club's youth academy as a left-winger, but with Marcus Rashford happier on that flank, he started on the right against Aston Villa in December and hasn't looked back.

Garnacho standing out

With four goals and an assist complemented by an average of six progressive carries per 90 minutes since, Garnacho has solved a problem for Ten Hag.

"We bought players in the summer for the future, we also made choices to give players who deserve it, to give opportunities in the first team as Garnacho and [Kobbie] Mainoo," Ten Hag following United's 3-0 win over West Ham on Sunday, in which Garnacho scored twice.

Garnacho could save United millions. The problem on the right flank ran deeper than Antony, with Jadon Sancho publicly falling out with ten hag before being shipped back to Borussia Dortmund on loan, while Amad Diallo isn't yet trusted to start regularly.

Garnacho is valued at €30 million by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, although the chances of the Red Devils cashing in on their Madrid-born Argentina international would appear to be slim to none at the moment.

A clear-out is expected next summer one Sir Jim Ratcliffe's feet are firmly under his desk, with Casemiro and Raphael Varane among the big earners in trouble.