Revealed: Even Ajax think €100m for Antony is 'absurd'

FT Desk

Updated: 26 Aug 2022 08:24 CDT
3 min read

Manchester United have made Antony their primary attacking target and are keen to bring him over to the club before the close of the transfer window.

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They’ve already seen an €80 million bid for the Brazilian rejected and are prepared to make a new offer to Ajax as they hope to bring the 22-year-old over to Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag is an admirer of Antony having seen his talents first-hand when the pair worked at Ajax between 2020 and 2022, and the manager wants to rekindle that relationship in Manchester.

The Red Devils are now preparing a new bid – believed to be above €90 million and possibly rising to €100 million – in the belief that it’ll be enough to tempt Ajax to sell the winger.

Schreuder can't believe Antony fee

The high fee has come under scrutiny, with many believing Antony isn’t worth that much money just yet and that Ajax are getting the better end of the deal here.

Alfred Schreuder, the Ajax manager, also finds the fee quite hard to believe and wasn’t sure his club could reject the new reported proposal from Manchester United.

“That’s an absurd amount of money,” Schreuder told ESPN after his team’s win over Sparta Rotterdam over the weekend, a game Antony missed as he made his desire to leave Ajax clear.

Both Ajax and Antony side, waiting for Manchester United new official bid since yesterday. New proposal expected this week to push again after €80m rejected. 🔴 #MUFC

▫️ Personal terms already agreed;
▫️ Antony wants Man Utd move.

Ajax, keen on Hakim Ziyech if Antony leaves. https://t.co/wzsaZY7qDz
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 24, 2022

He then reiterated his desire to keep Antony at the club for the upcoming campaign: “Whether we can also refuse a higher offer, that’s not up to me. Then you have to be with the management of the club.

“But I don’t want to lose him, and I think Ajax is still reasonably close to cash [financial stability],” Schreuder added later on.

This deal hinges on whether Ajax can find a replacement for Antony in time, and they’ve targeted their former player Hakim Ziyech to take up the place on the right wing.

Chelsea, however, want a fee close to the €44 million they paid for him back in 2020, which has put Ajax off and may force the Dutch champions to consider not selling.