Manchester United remain in talks with Ajax over the transfer of Antony and are prepared to lodge what they hope will be a final offer to sign the Brazilian, 90min understands.
The 22-year-old has long been established as United’s number one attacking target for the summer transfer window, and the player himself is pressing hard to make his move to Old Trafford happen.
The Brazilian has even been absent from recent Ajax training sessions in his attempts to force the move, though he is now back with the club after the Dutch champions decided to impose daily fines worth in excess of £25,000 as a punishment for his decisions.
Sources have indicated to 90min that they are expecting United’s offer to come in at around £80m, which will break Ajax’s record sale figure if the move comes off. Ajax previously sold another Manchester United transfer target, Frenkie de Jong, to Barcelona for £78m in 2019.
United hope that Antony will be one of two forward arrivals before the window closes, in the best case scenario, as uncertainty still hangs over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo.
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United have held interest in PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo, and a negotiation may be easier after their elimination from the Champions League by Rangers earlier this week – though he is still expected to cost a significant sum. They are also monitoring the situation around Memphis Depay, who saw a move from Barcelona to Juventus break down earlier this week.
The club have not ruled out a potential move for the former United player, though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s impending sale to Chelsea could clear the pathway for more regular first team football for the 28-year-old at Camp Nou.
New signing Casemiro could make his debut for the club at Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
