Newcastle Utd and Brighton join race to sign £50m Man United star as La Liga side wants loan deal - report
Man United are looking to sell several players this summer in order to generate some transfer funds.
Ruben Amorim is working hard to add more attacking talent to Manchester United this summer in order to replace four players who are all expected to leave the club. They added Matheus Cunha to play in one of the number 10 spots already.
Bryan Mbeumo is also a potential target who can fill the other number 10 role, with the Red Devils also keen to bring in a striker. The signings will help to replace the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony, who are all set to leave this summer.
The latter spent the second half of the season on loan at Real Betis, where he revived his form. The Spanish club would like to sign him, but they can’t afford a straight-up permanent deal, so they will likely have to bring him in on loan. But, the Red Devils want a permanent sale.
4 new clubs register interest in Antony
The Brazilian winger managed to score five goals and two assists in 17 La Liga matches, becoming a fan favourite at Real Betis. The Spanish club are desperate to sign him, but seeing as they will struggle to afford him, competition from richer clubs will be an issue for Betis.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, four new clubs are interested in Antony and could begin negotiations with Man United to sign the winger. Erik Ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig from the Bundesliga, and Newcastle and Brighton from the Premier League.
The report says that Man United have set an asking price for the 25-year-old of around £50m, which would be a £32m loss on the £82m that United paid for Antony in 2022 when they signed him from Ajax. The hefty asking price is one of the reasons why Betis are less likely to sign the attacker.
Could Newcastle or Brighton realistically sign Antony?
The interest from the two Premier League clubs is perhaps the most intriguing, especially considering Antony’s hefty asking price. Newcastle can easily afford a deal for the Brazilian; however, seeing as they recently signed Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, their priority is no longer the wide areas.
The Magpies are more keen to bring in a striker, and have been linked to signing Man United and Liverpool target Hugo Ekitike. In comparison, Brighton do have more of a need in attacking areas after they recently sold Joao Pedro to Chelsea, and Simon Adingra to Sunderland.
Furthermore, following the sale of Pedro, which amounted to £60m, Brighton have the money from Pedro’s sale to spend, and could bring in Antony to help replace their departed players this summer. Based on their recruitment track record, Brighton could negotiate a good deal for the winger, and potentially help him resurrect his Premier League career.
It is not yet understood where Antony’s preference lies, but he does want to leave Man United this summer, that much is guaranteed.