After clinching a shock deal for Real Madrid superstar Casemiro, Manchester United are not expected to slow down spending, after a stuttered transfer window up until this point.
The final two weeks of the window could be frenetic as United look to plug the holes in the squad which have been exposed during the first two matches of the Premier League season.
After failing with a £67 million bid for winger Antony, The Athletic reported, the club have a decision to make.
Antony has not trained with Ajax for the past two days, encouraging United to make a second attempt. When asked by De Telegraaf if he could guarantee he will stay at the Dutch club, he answered: “No, to be perfectly honest, I can’t.”
READ MORE: Confirmed Manchester United transfers, ins, outs, loans, releases for 2022/23
Antony fee excessive
There’s a strong argument philosophically to give manager Erik ten Hag his first choice player, whatever the price. United might end up paying close to £80 million to do so.
Whether this is actually smart, is another matter. Even at £60 million, the price for Antony seemed somewhat excessive.
He’s a very good player, but his production last season for Ajax of 12 goals and eight assists was only moderately impressive by Eredivisie standards.
For the price of around £80 million, or close to this, it doesn’t present fair value, and United could strengthen the team with two players for the same price.
Consider Milinkovic-Savic and Gakpo instead
For this figure, Manchester United could buy two players who could make the team stronger. A duo linked by The Telegraph earlier this week.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is available from Lazio for just £42million, the newspaper reports, a bargain for an all action midfielder who could complement Casemiro. United are said to have been in touch with his agents.
Milinkovic-Savic scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists for Lazio last season in Serie A, and he will add height, power and a box to box option to play effectively alongside the Brazilian midfielder.
Also available is PSV forward Cody Gakpo, who The Telegraph report would cost £38 million, and is a top target for United as an Antony alternative.
Gakpo scored 23 goals last season and provided 15 assists, outperforming Antony and also netting the winner against Ten Hag’s Ajax in the KNVB Cup final.
He can play across the front three and would give United an exciting option, which would be more effective supported by Milinkovic-Savic’s midfield play.
Antony is a top player, who Erik ten Hag has proven he can work with, but the option of signing two quality players for the same price should be strongly considered.
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