Ajax have signed Porto winger Francisco Conceição who has been touted as a potential replacement for Manchester United target Antony.
The 19-year-old Portugal Under-21 star is heading to Amsterdam after the reigning Eredivisie champions triggered his release clause, Fabrizio Romano reports.
From 33 appearances for Porto last season, the right-winger scored three goals and provided four assists.
Ajax sign potential Antony replacement
Antony is a key transfer target for United, with The Times reporting he is ‘determined’ to join the club and reunite with Erik ten Hag.
However, The Times report that the European giants want close to £70 million for the 22-year-old.
90min report that Ajax are willing to sell their number 11, who scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists under his former manager last season, if their asking price is met.
The report stated that the Champions League side had already identified a possible replacement for the South American in Porto’s Conceicao.
Earlier this month, GOAL reported that United had bid £51m for the Brazil international but the opening bid fell £20m short of Ajax’s valuation of the former Sau Paulo starlet.
But if Conceicao has been signed with planning for life without Antony in mind, Manchester United could well submit another transfer bid to land the nine-time Brazil international from Ajax.
With Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen signed and Lisandro Martinez set to follow, United’s transfer focus will likely be focused on securing Ten Hag’s primary target Frenkie de Jong.
But if an opportunity to sign Antony does materialise this summer given Ajax’s move for Conceicao then Ten Hag will likely want the club’s hierarchy to sanction a pursuit.
Jadon Sancho has impressed on the right of United’s attack in the opening two games of pre-season, but having Antony cutting inside onto his talented left foot would give Ten Hag’s attack another threat and dimension.
Signing Antony this summer seems more of a bonus than a priority at this stage, but what a bonus signing the talented Ajax star would be.
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