Manchester United have decided to offload Antony in the January transfer window, as per a report from Caught Offside. The Brazilian winger is currently a potential target to two Premier League outfits – Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
Moreover, his former club AFC Ajax have also shown interest in the player who once shined at the Eredivisie side before joining Manchester United. The United board is ready to either consider a permanent move for Antony or loan him out for a particular period.
Antony, who joined United when he was 22, hasn’t been at his best for the side. He was brought in with high hopes. But he is yet to deliver what was expected of him. During his stay at Ajax, he was an integral part of Erik ten Hag’s contingent. However, since his move to Old Trafford, the winger has only had 17 goal contributions in 86 appearances across all competitions.
Speaking of the ongoing season, Antony has secured only 27 minutes in the Premier League across two outings. Even in the UEFA Europa League, he played for only 22 minutes against FC Porto. Only in the Carabao Cup, the 24-year-old managed an entire game, where he was successful in finding the back of the net (against Barnsley FC).
His poor form suggests that a loan deal would be what his suitors would be looking for. A permanent transfer is beyond the horizon at this moment for Antony. Both Newcastle United and Crystal Palace want to strengthen their offensive third, and Antony is someone who is on their radar.
The pressure at Manchester United might be a factor behind Antony’s poor string of performances. Moving to Newcastle United or Crystal Palace might enable him to kick out the pressure from his mind and perform better. But, considering his stint in the Premier League, it might so happen that the Brazilian opts to rejoin Ajax, a place he succeeded at.
Will Manchester United’s attack be at risk if Antony leaves?
Erik ten Hag has mostly used Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho on the wings. At times, Amad Diallo has also been an option. If Manchester United let go of Antony, they would have to look at other potential options to fill the void.
Changing the system, mainly in the second half could also be something the Manchester United think-tank might consider. A case, where United field both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, could be a possibility.
However, other options could possibly be those who are currently in the reserves setup. Someone like James Scanlon can be a good option, who has scored in all five appearances this season for the youth side. He is just 18 and mainly operates as a left winger. But his track record suggests he could be a decent option on the right wing too.
Similarly, 18-year-old Malachi Sharpe could be another potential talent ten Hag could look to promote to his side. With five goal contributions in the ongoing season for the Manchester United U-21 side, Sharpe could possibly be the like-to-like replacement for Antony.
