While Manchester United gear up to make a second bid for Frenkie de Jong, talks are also understood to be ongoing for Ajax winger Antony.
Club officials supposedly flew to Amsterdam earlier this week to begin negotiations before reports surfaced that the Brazilian had told Erik ten Hag that is very eager for a switch to Old Trafford. The Manchester Evening News understands the 22-year-old is one of his top summer targets.
The Dutchman is keen to reinforce his attacking options with Cristiano Ronaldo set to be the main man leading the line once again. The Portugal captain broke several records again this season with his 24 goals and said he is looking forward to playing under Ten Hag.
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo will love departing Man United ace Juan Mata's theory on Donny van de Beek
And he may be even more excited by Antony’s arrival. The attacker recorded 11 assists for both Ajax and Brazil’s Under-23s last season, netting 12 times for his club side.
Of those 11 assists, eight were either crosses or corners. With Ronaldo taking up more of a poacher's role in his twilight career years, this may be music to his ears.
He all too often cut a frustrated figure with the lack of service he was getting during his homecoming campaign. If Antony can continue to deliver balls into the danger zone for United, if signed, then Ronaldo could improve on last term’s tally.
No less than 20 of Ronaldo's goals came from inside the area, and Antony has proven to provide excellent service into the area in the biggest games. He grabbed two assists apiece in Champions League games against Sporting Lisbon and Borussia Dortmund this campaign, three of which came in the form of a cross.
Four of Ronaldo’s six Champions League goals came from inside the area, and fans may be right to assume that considerably more opportunities will present themselves to both the 37-year-old and Antony against Europa League defences this time around.
The potential is there for the duo to strike up a prolific partnership. And the opportunity to form an alliance with one of the greatest to ever grace the game gives him a perfect reason to push for a move to United.
READ NEXT:
