Manchester United winger Antony continues to attract interest off the back of his performances for Real Betis.
Ruben Amorim is looking for a big summer transfer window at Manchester United.
United beat Athletic Club 3-0 on Thursday night and could win the Europa League, which would secure a passage into the Champions League.
United are still nowhere near the team Amorim really wants, though, and that means a big summer is on the horizon.
Wolverhampton Wanderers attacker Matheus Cunha looks poised to join United in a £62.5million deal, kicking off the summer business.
United need much more, but that likely means selling some players in order to bring in cash for new recruits.
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Manchester United stance on Antony
Antony certainly fits the bill as a player United could let go this summer.
United signed Antony from Ajax in 2022, and the Brazilian made a blistering start to his United career with three goals in three games.
After struggling to recapture that early form, Antony joined Real Betis in January – and he has dazzled in Spain.
Antony impressed the Spanish media with a thunderbolt of a goal against Fiorentina on Thursday night.
The Mirror (04/05, p66) now report that Betis believe Anthony has ‘given them his word’ over returning to the club this summer.
The problem for Betis is that United want to leave the race for Antony open, encouraging other bidders this summer.
Atletico Madrid have enquired about Antony and United want to try and drive the potential price tag up.
United allegedly want £40million for Antony, which would still be a hefty loss, but a boost for the summer budget.
Betis would struggle to compete with Atletico in terms of money, and United will look to give other clubs the chance to make a move for Antony’s signature, potentially leaving Betis to miss out.
Arsenal join Antony race
One strange link has emerged from Brazil, with UOL Esporte claiming that Arsenal have joined Atletico in enquiring about Antony.
Antony’s debut United goal came against Arsenal in 2022 and a move to North London would be a surprise.
Antony has shown little in the Premier League to suggest that he can make a big impact, especially for a title-chasing team like Arsenal.
Goal reported in 2019 that Arsenal wanted Antony from Sao Paulo, with Calciomercato adding in 2022 that Antony was on Arsenal’s radar again after shining at Ajax.
There is long-term speculation around Antony to Ajax, but we would have expected the previous interest to be down to Edu.
Arsenal’s former technical director had a great knowledge of Brazilian talents and Antony was certainly considered to be a top prospect.
Edu has now gone and has been replaced by Andrea Berta – ironically, Atletico Madrid’s former sporting director.
We can’t see Antony moving to Arsenal this summer, but United would surely relish any kind of bidding war, even if means selling to a Premier League rival.
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