Arsenal's Mount contact and Antony exit talk – Romano on the latest Man Utd transfer rumours

Robin Bairner

• 14 Mar 2024 12:02 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has dropped the latest on two Manchester United rumours, including Mason Mount’s situation at the club and suggestions that Antony could be on his way.

Mount’s position, in particular, has been a curious one. He arrived last summer for €64 million from Chelsea but struggled to make an impact in the early weeks of the season. For the last four months, he has been missing because of injury.

His arrival was a controversial move in the first place and his subsequent lack of match time has fuelled criticism over the transfer. Under contract until 2028, the 25-year-old has not played since November and has featured only 12 times for Man Utd.

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Rumours have indicated that his future could have been very different, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta having been interested in taking him to the Emirates Stadium along with Kai Havertz.

Romano says the story is true – but only to an extent.

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“Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is alleged to have told confidants that the Gunners were very close to signing Mount from Chelsea,” he wrote for the Daily Briefing.

“My understanding is that there were contacts with both Arsenal and Liverpool while his situation remained uncertain at Chelsea, but this was not in the summer, it was around April when clubs started to ask about Mount deal conditions. That’s it, but Man United was always the priority for the player.”

Antony to leave Man Utd?

Antony is another Manchester United player considered a dub, with the Brazil international having yet to record a goal or assist in his second season at the club after a €95 million transfer from Ajax 18 months ago.

The possibility of a one-year loan back to Flamengo has been mooted for the winger. Romano, though, has played this possibility down.

“I would take this with a pinch of salt, however, as Antony firmly rejected any option from Brazil in January. Let’s see if that changes in the summer, but right now there’s nothing taking place and I’m not even sure he would change his mind and accept that just five months later,” Romano says.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer rumours