Manchester United are expected to be one of the busiest clubs come the end of the January transfer window.
The Red Devils are set to complete several high-profile deals.
Alejandro Garnacho is a transfer target for Chelsea and Napoli with Marcus Rashford prioritising a move to Barcelona.
There is also major uncertainty surrounding the future of one of the club’s most expensive-ever signings.
Antony’s Man United problems are hard to watch
After losing his place in Ruben Amorim’s starting lineup to Amad Diallo, Antony’s standing at Old Trafford is under threat.
The Brazilian was Erik ten Hag’s most expensive signing but has massively failed to live up to those expectations.
The 24-year-old’s stats in the Premier League, especially this season, make for some very hard viewing.
| Antony in Premier League 2024-25 | Statistic |
| Appearances | 7 |
| Starts | 0 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Shots on target per game | 0.4 |
| Big chances missed | 1 |
| Big chances created | 0 |
| Accurate long balls | 0 |
| Accurate chipped balls | 0 |
| Accurate crosses | 0 |
| Possession lost per game | 3.4 |
| Successful dribbles per game | 0.6 |
| Aerial duels won | 0 |
And discussing just how disappointing Antony has been, talkSPORT’s Darren Bent admitted he feels empathic toward the misfiring South American.
“I do feel for him. It just feels like everything is going wrong for him at the minute, everything,” he said.
Bent isn’t wrong. United’s number 21’s form and confidence are at rock bottom.
Permanent transfer has to be earned
Antony is wanted by Real Betis and could complete a loan for the second half of the season.
The two clubs are in talks over a package that would likely see United’s owners pay most of the winger’s wages.
While that outcome would be far from ideal for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is working to trim United’s wage bill, Bent believes it is the only option the Red Devils have.
“What do you do with him?” he asked.
“Who is going to buy him? You have to loan him. That’s one of those situations where unless he goes back to the Eredivisie, you have to loan him first. He has to earn that move.”
Antony has largely failed to perform since his £86 million transfer from Ajax in 2022. The winger has shown glimpses of what he’s capable of, but those moments have been few and far between.
To rescue his career, regardless of whether his future is at United, Antony simply has to move on and recapture his best form otherwise he risks being remembered as the Premier League’s worst-ever signing — an award no player wants.
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