Erik ten Hag is keen on bringing Ajax winger Antony with him should he leave the Dutch side this summer despite reservations from some.
The Dutchman is heavily linked with the Old Trafford dugout as Manchester United eye a permanent boss in the coming months. Ralf Rangnick's interim spell is due to end and Ten Hag is among the favourites to take over should United be able to prise him away from Amsterdam.
Ten Hag has been working at the Johan Cruyff Arena since 2017 and has helped Ajax dominate domestically as well as impress in Europe. He's had to rebuild his side after stars like Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie De Jong moved on but has done so effectively. Brazilian Anthony is among the leading lights of this current squad.
Ten Hag spent just shy of £13m to sign the 22-year-old from Sao Paulo and wants to continue working with him even if he leaves Ajax, reports the Telegraph. Antony has scored 12 times this year, including twice in the Champions League. The Dutch side have made a habit of signing young players before developing them and selling them for huge profits.
Anthony though has been warned that "idiotic" decisions could scupper his move to a European heavyweight. After notching a match-winning goal at the weekend he was sent-off for two yellow cards - each of them needless - and has see his behaviour slammed. "Suppose we are in the stands together as a scout for Manchester City or Liverpool and we are looking at Antony," claimed for Dutch international Rene van der Gijp. "What do you think we would say when we come back on Monday? We will not take that. You don’t see a Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane or Mohamed Salah doing this?
It would mean, were Ten Hag to move on, his new employers may have to shell out a hefty fee to sign Antony. That employer could soon be the Red Devils with Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino seen as the two frontrunners for the job. The 52-year-old has remained coy on his future for several months despite the speculation.
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“At the moment, I am only working with Ajax and have no further thoughts on the future," Ten Hag said recently. "The focus is on this season. Right now I shouldn’t be the theme. The theme is: how are we going to win games?” He also claimed earlier this season: “I am very happy at Ajax and I give everything for the club, every day. I know you can’t plan anything in football, but you have to make an exceptional and extraordinary offer if I want to change my plans.”
United's forward options already includes the likes of Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga, two men who have operated from wide areas. Marcus Rashford, who is desperately out of form, is another option. The Red Devils will also be looking to add a No.9 this summer with Edinson Cavani's contract expiring.
Ten Hag however has been advised by former United boss Louis van Gaal to avoid heading to the red half of Manchester. He spent two seasons in charge at Old Trafford but was sacked after winning the FA Cup amid heavy criticism of his playing style.
“Erik ten Hag is a great manager and that’s always good for Manchester United, but Manchester United is a commercial club, so it’s a difficult choice for a coach. [Ten Hag] would be better off going to a football club,” Van Gaal said. “I’m not going to advise him, he’ll call me himself. We have conversations with each other. But he should choose a football club and not a commercial club.”
