Ajax rejected Manchester United's £76.3m (€90m) bid for Brazil international Antony; winger worked with Erik Ten Hag during United manager's time with Eredivisie champions; talks remain ongoing between two clubs ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline
Ajax have already rejected two bids from Manchester United for Antony
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Ajax have already rejected two bids from Manchester United for Antony
Manchester United remain in talks with Ajax over the signing of Antony after their latest offer of €90m (£76.3m) was rejected.
United have been chasing the 22-year-old for several weeks and also saw a £67.9m (€80m) offer rebuffed by the club earlier this week.
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One source claims Ajax want at least €100m (£84.8m) - but they are under no pressure to sell and feel they have little time to bring in a replacement.
United are prepared to walk away from the deal - but it is thought that point has not arrived yet.
United, however, do continue to look at other options. They also have an interest in Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and continue to keep an eye on his situation. Chelsea have been in talks over signing Aubameyang.
Antony was omitted from the Ajax squad for last Sunday's 1-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam, in the latest indication the player wants to move to Old Trafford, but the Eredivisie champions have stood firm against United's improved offer.
Schreuder confident over Antony future
Speaking earlier this week, Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder said he was confident Antony would remain at the club - and appeared to take a swipe at the fact that United are not playing in the Champions League.
"I have a good feeling about it. Of course, it's difficult. I understand the lad," Schreuder said after Ajax's win on Sunday. "But he plays for Ajax, so these clubs do come knocking on the door. We are playing in the Champions League and I don't think Manchester United are."
South American football expert Tim Vickery discusses what Antony could bring to Old Trafford
When asked if Ajax could afford to turn down bids of €90 or €100m, he replied: "I don't know, that's for the club to decide, but I think we are very strong financially.
"As I already said, the money involved nowadays is ridiculous, of course. But if you look at our group, since I arrived we have already sold five or six key players. I disapprove if we were to sell another player."
Why Antony is Ten Hag's man
"For sure, we hope he will be the next star of Ajax." It was July 2020 and Erik ten Hag, Ajax's manager at the time, was introducing Antony, the club's new £20m signing from Sao Paulo.
"We at Ajax are always trying to strive for the top," added Ten Hag. "So I expect he will do his best to reach that level of expectation. The rest, we will see in the future."
Ten Hag was right to expect big things of Antony - the Brazilian, only 19 when he agreed his move to Amsterdam, swiftly established himself as one of Ajax's key players - but even he could not have predicted he might one day take him to Manchester United too.
Read Nick Wright's full feature on Antony here.
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