Manchester United’s plans for the summer are quietly taking shape behind the scenes and once a new manager is appointed, new signings will follow.
The two could be closely linked, with The Telegraph reporting Erik ten Hag would want to bring Ajax winger Antony with him to Old Trafford.
Antony could be a significant signing for United in more ways than one. Here is a look at three ways the 22-year-old could change the club’s fortunes…
Best two wingers since…
United would not just be signing one dynamic winger, the club would be making the one they already have even more dangerous.
Antony and Jadon Sancho could become a fearfully unpredictable force on United’s wings, forming a highly dangerous pairing.
Sancho on his own is very good, but add Antony to the mix, and he becomes even harder for teams to plan for and to try and stop.
This season Antony has scored 12 goals and provided eight assists, while Sancho has only scratched the surface of what he is capable of, with his five goals and three assists a fraction of what he produced in the Bundesliga.
The duo could potentially become United’s best two wingers for many a year, perhaps even back to the Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelskis days.
Ten Hag’s key man
Managing to bring a player from Ajax with him would be hugely important for Ten Hag, in terms of continuity and implementing his system.
Antony could act as a reference point for United’s players and set an example, helping the Red Devils squad get up to speed.
Ten Hag will be tasked with a huge overhaul on and off the pitch, wingers are key to the Dutchman’s system, keeping the team’s width and shape. Having already worked with Anthony at length, he will have one ‘known quantity’ he can trust in a squad of fresh faces.
Samba skills
In Antony, Manchester United would be signing a ‘proper Brazilian’ with the flair and attacking quality of some of his country’s finest.
United midfielders Fred and previously Andreas Pereira have faced cruel jibes on social media they are ‘fake Brazilians’ due to their games lacking the spark fans hoped for.
Antony is different, he is a box of tricks who can bamboozle defenders and can get the crowd on their feet. He is exactly the type of player United fans will take to, and his ‘Samba skills’ can make the Red Devils one of the most exciting teams in England to watch.
He will also be lighting up the World Cup with Brazil later this year, and if United miss out this summer, his price tag could soar afterwards.
- Erik Ten Hag’s managerial record and style of play
- Erik Ten Hag’s five most expensive transfers
- Ajax’s last five managers before Ten Hag and where they are now
- Five Ajax players Ten Hag could sign for Manchester United
- Ten Hag’s comments when Van de Beek left Ajax for Old Trafford
- Six key issues for Manchester United’s next boss
- The three biggest wins of Ten Hag’s managerial career
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
