Manchester United are looking at alternatives to Antony after Ajax rejected their £67.9million bid for the Brazil forward.
Erik ten Hag wants to be reunited with his former striker at United, but the Old Trafford hierarchy believe their big offer reflects Antony's current market value.
United have begun the process of looking elsewhere, with PSV Eindhoven's Cody Gakpo their primary fall-back option if Ajax do not relent and accept the offer for Antony. Gakpo would be a much cheaper option for United, who could land him for half of what it would cost them to sign Antony, if Ajax continue to dig their heels in.
United's pursuit of Gakpo could ultimately be determined by the outcome of PSV's Champions League play-off decider at home to Rangers on Wednesday. If PSV, who drew the first leg 2-2 at Ibrox, advance and land the revenue from reaching the Champions League group stage, they will be under less pressure to sell Gakpo.
But if they fail to make the Champions League, United would have a clearer run at Gakpo, who has scored 45 goals in 141 appearances for PSV, and who has also interested Everton. Chelsea's Christian Pulisic is another option for United, but they are hoping Antony's desire to leave will help persuade Ajax to have a change of heart and agree to let him go.
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Ajax want £80m for Antony, despite their public insistence he is not for sale, while United have yet to decide whether to launch an improved bid, in a last-ditch effort to get the deal done. If United are able to land Antony or Gakpo, that would leave the way clear for Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford, with Ten Hag happy to let him go, as long as he has a replacement up front.
Antony was left out of his side’s Eredivisie clash against Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday with sources in the Netherlands suggesting the Ajax had placed a fresh €100 million (£84.9 million) valuation on him. Antony played 33 games last season for the Dutch giants, where he scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists before missing the final segment of the campaign through injury. He also played nine games in the South American Qualifiers for the World Cup for the Brazilian national team and scored two goals.
