Manchester United are closing in on signing Antony after agreeing to pay Ajax around €100m (£84m) for the Brazilian striker, with negotiations over the terms of the transfer progressing smoothly.
Last week, the Dutch club rejected a bid of €90m – United’s third bid for the 22-year-old – but it is understood talks have taken place in recent days and the Erik ten Hag is increasingly confident of achieving it. Negotiations are understood to be continuing over the structure of the deal and Antony is now expected to become Ten Hag’s fifth summer signing before the window closes at 11pm on Thursday in what would be the second most expensive transfer in United’s history.
Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder insisted on Thursday that he was confident Antony, who has 31 goals in 134 appearances since joining from Sao Paulo in 2020 for an initial £13m, would not leave in this window . Asked if that had changed after his side’s 2-0 win over Utrecht on Sunday, Schreuder said: “I stand by those words. I want to talk about the game, not Antony. I said more than enough about that.”
He added: “It’s all about money… I think that’s sad. But this is our world, it’s very sad and I don’t approve of these things at all.”
Ten Hag wants the Brazilian to bolster his striking options. The coach currently has Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Elanga, Anthony Martial and Cristiano Ronaldo. Meanwhile, former United striker Edinson Cavani looks likely to join Valencia on a two-year deal.