Antony over Kudus all you need to know about Ten Hag's eye for a transfer

FT Desk

• 7 Dec 2023 11:42 CST
• 3 min read

Antony's struggles at Manchester United as Mohammed Kudus continues to thrive at West Ham don't exactly cast a positive light on Erik ten Hag's judgement in the transfer market.

Antony has completed more 360°-spins than he has goals or assists for Man Utd this season - his attacking tally amounting to zero in each column after 15 games in all competitions.

Kudus has hit the ground running at West Ham, meanwhile, with six direct goal-involvements from just two more games than his former Ajax teammate.

Ten Hag had previously signed both for Ajax, part of a committee that sanctioned outlays of €15.8 million on Antony from Sao Paulo and €9m for Kudus from FC Nordsjaelland in the summer of 2020.

Both made the record Dutch champions considerable profits when they left, Antony joining United for a potential €100m last summer - a club record fee for Ajax - and Kudus West Ham for an initial €44.5m plus add-ons this year.

Kudus outperforming Antony

But United's suits must be looking down the road to East London and thinking they were recommended the wrong player. While Antony is without a goal since February's 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Europa League, Kudus has hit four in the last two months alone.

And he has done so for less than half of Antony's price.

Antony recently implored United's club legends to offer him support instead of slamming him publicly. "I've never seen them give constructive criticism, which will help me be a better professional," he told the United Stand.

There are parallels between Antony and Kudus. Both are left-footed right wingers, even if Kudus has played across the final third in his career for club and country so far - but that means the Ghanaian is more versatile as well as productive than the Brazilian. And for a supposedly weaker team to boot

Perhaps Ten Hag should be asking the like of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes for support when it comes to which players he might be better bringing to Old Trafford.