Manchester United is prepared to engage in negotiations should any team propose to purchase midfielder Antony, who joined the Red Devils for a transfer fee of $109 million.
According to English and Spanish media outlets, Manchester United faces difficulty in recouping half of the transfer fee they paid for the player 18 months ago. Due to waning trust in Antony’s abilities, the team is prepared to incur substantial losses. However, the recent performances of the Brazilian international are unlikely to attract interest from other clubs.
Antony departed Ajax to join Manchester United on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2022 for a fee of $109 million, the second-highest in the history of the “Red Devils” after Paul Pogba. The 24-year-old midfielder performed decently in the early stages of the season but has since declined. He has not scored in the Premier League for the past 320 days. This season, the former Ajax midfielder has yet to score or provide an assist in 20 league appearances.
Antony’s decline has led coach Erik ten Hag to withdraw his support, despite being the one who brought his former protege from Ajax to Old Trafford. In the recent 1-2 defeat to Fulham, Antony was benched in favor of 20-year-old forward Omari Forson. When Forson was substituted, another young midfielder, Amad Diallo, was brought on instead of Antony. The Brazilian international only played one minute of stoppage time, occupying the left-back position.
According to the Spanish newspaper Fichajes, Manchester United is willing to sell Antony for $55 million. However, fans worry that no club would be willing to pay this amount for the 24-year-old midfielder. His contract with Manchester United expires in the summer of 2027, but currently, there is no interest from any team in acquiring his services.
Antony is among the group of over 10 players who could be sold if the club receives reasonable offers in the summer of 2024. Additionally, Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial, and Tom Heaton will see their contracts expire at the end of the season and are unlikely to be extended. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, and Facundo Pellistri also have only one year left on their contracts, and the club has no intention of renewing. Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek, Hannibal Mejbri, and Alvaro Fernandez are also listed for potential sale.