Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag’s hopes of signing Ajax forward Antony have been boosted after a proposed Premier League swap deal broke down.
Antony is said to be among the leading transfer targets for Ten Hag who is keen to reunite with the 22-year-old - Ajax's star player last season. United are said to be in pole position to land the Brazilian given his strong relationship with the Red Devils boss at the Amsterdam Arena while the player's representatives recently travelled to Europe in order to discuss a possible transfer this summer.
Ajax will be more open to offers for the Brazilian this summer should they sign forward Steven Bergwijn from Tottenham this summer. The Dutch international is a key target for the Amsterdam-based club but they face rival interest from Everton, to whom Spurs offered the player in part-exchange in their move to sign Richarlison from Goodison Park.
However, Everton stood firm on their objective of cash for the Brazilian forward rather than Bergwijn in part-exchange – meaning that Bergwijn is still available to sign for Ajax, with Spurs increasingly likely to cash in on him as they complete the deal for Richarlison.
Bergwijn previously starred at PSV Eindhoven prior to his switch to the Premier League in 2020. The 24-year-old has also impressed for the Dutch national team – he has found the net four times in six caps this year and looks set to play a big role for Louis van Gaal's side at the upcoming World Cup.
Antony is primarily a right-sided player, which would add balance to United's attack with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford primarily deployed on the left. Anthony Elanga also recently claimed that he preferred to play on the left rather than on the right, where he had been utilised by former United interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
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The Brazilian is high up United's transfer shortlist with the club closing in on a deal to sign Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong with an initial transfer fee agreed with Barcelona for £56.2million. They are also close to a £14million deal to land De Jong's Netherlands international teammate Tyrell Malacia – Feyenoord's left-back.
United have yet to add any new signings to their ranks this summer despite Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani and Lee Grant all leaving the club as free agents upon the expiry of their respective contracts.
Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez and free agent Christian Eriksen, who is also wanted by Brentford, are also both ranked highly on United's shortlist of wanted players this summer.
