If Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United, would Manchester United pursue Antony? This summer, the Portuguese has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford. The midfielder’s name has been linked with the Red Devils throughout the summer, but the Portuguese club have so far failed to make a move. Erik ten Hag has already signed Lisandro Martinez from Ajax and was interested in Jurrien Timber, but the Ajax midfielder decided to stay.
Manchester United’s pursuit of Ajax winger Antony
It’s rumoured that Manchester United are in the process of moving Antony Hegerberg down their transfer shortlist, with the club attempting to change their approach and pursue a more versatile forward instead. Although only 22 years old, Antony has already proven himself in the highest competitions, and has contributed to four goals and two assists in the Champions League this season. Meanwhile, United are reportedly pursuing a PS68m fee for Antony, a much higher fee than initially thought.
But what is clear is that Jose Mourinho remains a big admirer of the right winger, and has previously named him as a target in Amsterdam. The Portuguese manager is reportedly keen to sign both Antony and Martinez, who he rates at EUR80m. Manchester United are in talks with the former, but Ajax have a valuation of EUR140m for both players. While the valuation is more than United intended to pay, this still remains within the range of possible deals.
While the deal isn’t finalized yet, it looks like the deal between Manchester United and Ajax is likely to go through, and there is no reason for the Dutch side to refuse a deal for Antony. United have recently appointed Erik ten Hag as their new manager, and signing players who he wants is an effective way of establishing their authority in the transfer market.
Although United are pursuing the winger, it’s possible that a deal would be thwarted if Tottenham fail to agree to a deal for Steven Bergwijn. Tottenham, however, have already rejected United’s initial offer for the right winger, and they are expected to come back with a new one if they fail to land a deal.
Ajax haven’t been deterred by Manchester United’s PS70m bid for Antony, according to talkSPORT. But their agents have been pressing for a deal, and they have reportedly urged Ajax to listen to United’s proposal. The club is willing to listen to the offer, but it will have to wait and see. They may well agree to accept it if Manchester United offer at least PS70m for the winger.
Christian Eriksen linked with Manchester United
It has been reported that Christian Eriksen has been linked with Manchester United. The Danish midfielder was capped 21 times for Denmark and helped his club to two Eredivisie titles. Eriksen was named Dutch talent of the year and Danish footballer of the year. He was also named as a member of the UEFA U-21 European Championship Team. Eriksen’s presence at Manchester United would certainly help boost the club’s midfield.
The Danish international has a long history of interest in Manchester United and opted to join the club rather than Brentford. However, he had to undergo a more stringent medical as he has a heart problem. Although this is unlikely to cause too many problems for Eriksen, he is expected to join Man United. If he accepts the deal, he will join the club under new manager Erik ten Hag.
The Danish international was last month forced to pull out of his contract with Brentford after suffering cardiac arrest at the Euro 2020 final. He had life-saving treatment while on the pitch, and his partner ran onto the pitch in tears. The player’s recovery has been outstanding, and he has recently been fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device to prevent future cardiac arrests.
After his summer move to Brentford, the Denmark international signed with Brentford for the 2018-19 season. He had already worked with Thomas Frank at his former club, and the two were linked at the time. Thomas Frank reportedly said Eriksen would be the perfect signing for Manchester United. After his debut against Newcastle, Brentford slipped to fourteenth position, and every club below Brentford was threatening to leapfrog them. However, Eriksen managed to impress in his second Premier League game against Chelsea on February 26.
Lisandro Martinez joins Manchester United from Ajax
The move to sign Lisandro Martinez from Ajax has finally been confirmed, with the Argentine defender flying to the Premier League to complete his move. Martinez, 28, has made 118 appearances for Ajax, and has the versatility to play on either wing or in the defensive midfield. He is the third summer signing from Ajax for the Red Devils, after Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia.
The move to Manchester United is not without controversy, as the Argentinian has been linked with a move to Arsenal. Despite this, many have welcomed Martinez’s arrival at Old Trafford. Despite a high profile in football, his signing may have sparked interest among fans. The Spaniard is likely to be paid a huge amount more than his current wages at Ajax, with the new contract likely to be worth significantly more.
Ajax were linked with several clubs for Martinez, including Arsenal and Manchester United. But it is Manchester United’s move that sparked a real interest in Martinez. The move came about following a bid from Arsenal for the left-back. Ajax and Arsenal had been competing for Martinez’s signature, but Manchester United leapfrogged them in the race. Martinez has only three years left on his contract, so he could easily change the formation.
The deal was completed on Tuesday evening and Ajax have confirmed the move. The deal is subject to medical clearance and the signing of player terms. The Argentine has been a key part of United’s attack in the past, winning two Eredivisie titles and a Dutch Cup. However, Martinez’s arrival has come at a time when the Red Devils are in need of reinforcement in defence.
Marc Cucurella linked with Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester City have reportedly stepped up their interest in signing Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion. The Spanish left back is reportedly on the club’s radar as they look to strengthen their squad. Cucurella is a former Barcelona B player who joined Brighton this season after a fine season with Getafe. It is believed that he is a top target for Pep Guardiola, who is hoping to raise PS200million from the sale of players.
The Spanish left-back has been in the headlines recently after being named the Men’s Player and Supporters’ Player of the Season. His heroics have already earned him a place in the Brighton first team. During the award ceremony, the former Barcelona youth team captain delivered an English speech that contained many words he couldn’t understand. Brighton are in a great position to sign Cucurella, as he has just four years left on his contract and would be keen to have him at the club.
Cucurella has been linked with a move to Brighton & Hove Albion after the club’s failed to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer. The club’s current left-back situation has seen them forced to play Joao Cancelo in the position due to the absence of a reliable left-back. But the Spanish manager is also known to be a fan of Cucurella and has shown interest in signing the midfielder.
A loan spell at Barcelona followed by a permanent move to Getafe was enough for the young player to get some game time. Despite his limited opportunities at the Camp Nou, Cucurella admitted that the lack of playing time at Barca has been a thorn in his side. Nevertheless, he said that it is one of his dreams to play at the Camp Nou.
