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Analysis
- 13 hours ago
Arsenal eye SHOCK transfer for Antony as Arteta makes Man Utd flop a 'priority'
Suraj Radia
- 3 Apr 2025 19:45 BST
- 3 min read
News
Arsenal could make a stunning move for Antony this summer, according to reports in Spain, after the Manchester United loanee’s impressive stint with Real Betis.
Antony moved to Betis on loan in January after struggling to make an impact in the Premier League but the 25-year-old has enjoyed a new lease of life in Spain, grabbing four goals and two assists in 12 appearances.
Berta has Arsenal in ‘POLE POSITION’ for winger after Nico Williams meeting
Current ETV
Antony
M, AM (R)
Real Betis
Antony
M, AM (R)
Real Betis
ETV Range
€20.4M - €24.9M
Betis are desperate to keep hold of Antony beyond the end of the season but the La Liga side are aware that United would only entertain a permanent sale this summer, which could prove unfeasible for the Spaniards.
The situation has led to Arsenal identifying Antony as a ‘priority’ to strengthen in attack, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, who claim that Mikel Arteta ‘will not hesitate’ to submit a ‘strong’ bid that surpasses anything Betis can offer.
Arteta is said to believe that Antony’s style of play fits perfectly with Arsenal’s style of play and that the Gunners will ‘preempt any other suitors’ by negotiating with United ‘as soon as possible’.
United would welcome any opportunity to recoup as much of the €95 million they spent on Antony in 2022 as possible, with the Brazilian having no future at Old Trafford otherwise.
READ MORE: Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfers of all time
Arteta could repeat Kai Havertz trick in shock Antony deal
Arsenal moving for Antony would be a major shock given the winger’s struggles in England, although Arteta has previously been willing to sign underperforming and inconsistent stars from rivals in an attempt to get the best out of their ability.
Similar eyebrows were raised when Arsenal splashed €75m on Kai Havertz despite the German being seen as a frustrating yet talented star at Chelsea, while the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have also been signed after being cast off by rivals.
Antony perhaps lacks Havertz’s pedigree but the ex-Ajax star would fill a void as a backup to Bukayo Saka on the right wing, with Arsenal clearly having struggled in the England international’s absence this season.
Arsenal’s ambitions are firmly set on Nico Williams this summer to strengthen on the wing but the Athletic Bilbao star’s wages may prove to be a stumbling block.
With United reportedly willing to accept bids of €40m for Antony, a move to Arsenal may not be that farfetched if the Gunners find themselves lacking options further into the window, particularly if the Red Devils continue to lower their asking price.
