Why Ajax are holding up Man Utd’s incredible €125m double transfer
Robin Bairner
- 9 Jul 2022 14:35 CDT
- 3 min read
Manchester United remain desperate to seal transfers for Ajax pair Lisandro Martinez and Antony, but there appears to be little prospect of the Eredivisie champions allowing them to make a quick move.
While The Times reports that new manager Erik ten Hag is pushing for Man Utd to secure the signatures of both players, Ajax are not in a rush to sell the pair.
Indeed, the Amsterdam club can afford to take their time. Both players have significant time left on their contracts, while they have already shipped out Ryan Gravenberch and Sebastien Haller on big-money deals this summer to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively. Their coffers are overflowing, and they appear unwilling to be pressed into making a quick sale by the Red Devils.
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It has been widely reported that Man Utd have already had offers for the pair rebuffed, with Ajax ramping their asking price up according to their comfortable situation. Indeed, it is now stated that the Dutch club are seeking a combined fee of €125 million for the pair – an astronomical figure for two players who are relatively untested at the top level of European football.
Nevertheless, Ten Hag, who worked intensely with both Martinez and Antony during his time with Ajax, is convinced that they are players who can breathe fresh life into his Manchester United team.
Ajax stalling for time
Indeed, it appears that the Red Devils are willing to pay this substantial fee for the pair. Instead, the hold up on this deal surrounds Ajax.
Rather than allowing Martinez and Antony to leave immediately, the Eredivisie side wants to wait until they can secure replacements for the pair. This is a luxury that is afforded to them by their comfortable transfer situation. Unfortunately for United, time is something that is against them.
Ten Hag’s squad are already in Thailand for their first pre-season match of the season against Liverpool on 12 July. With just one completed deal so far this summer and the well-publicised problems they are having with Cristiano Ronaldo, there is little doubt they are lagging behind their rivals.
The sooner Martinez and Antony are in the Man Utd squad, the better.
