Erik ten Hag has left the door open to bringing two Ajax players with him to Manchester United as he swaps the Johan Cruyff Arena for Old Trafford.
The incoming manager, 52, is expected to arrive in Manchester on Monday ahead of United's final Premier League game of the season, against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Ten Hag bowed out at Ajax in style last week by winning his third Eredivisie title, bringing to an end a successful four-and-a-half year stint in Amsterdam.
During that time, he has worked alongside and developed many of Europe's brightest prospects who have gone on to secure big-money transfers to the continent's biggest clubs. These include Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Donny van de Beek, who now ply their trades with Juventus, Barcelona and United respectively.
The Ajax conveyer belt of talent has shown no signs of slowing up and two of Ten Hag's most-dependable performers this season were forward Antony and defender Jurrien Timber. Brazil international Antony, 22, chipped in with 12 goals and 10 assists across 33 appearances in all competitions from his berth on the right wing.
Meanwhile, Netherlands centre-half Timber, 20, has been a mainstay at the back, racking up 42 appearances in all competitions while scoring three times. Antony and his Dutch colleague look every bit like the next two great prospects to burst onto the scene at Ajax, so it is no surprise they are linked with transfers away this summer.
Given Ten Hag is making the switch to United, many suspect the Red Devils could be at the front of the queue to sign one or both of the duo. This is especially true as the Old Trafford club have a strong relationship with Ajax, whose chief executive is Edwin van der Sar.
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However, Ten Hag has no doubt there will be plenty of rival suitors vying for Antony and Timber's services. "I think all the top clubs in Europe have Timber in their sights, but I think that applies to a lot of Ajax players at the moment," he told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf .
"If Antony were to go, it would be a loss for Ajax. He is top class." Antony has been on Ajax's books since 2020, when he joined from Sao Paulo for an initial £13million, rising to £18.2million with add-ons. Timber is one of the club's many academy graduates having arrived from Feyenoord as a youngster back in 2014.
