Ajax set price for Man Utd to conclude Antony transfer deal despite Erik ten Hag annoyance

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Ajax have told Manchester United they must pay £84million in order to land Antony in the final week of the transfer window, reports claim. The Brazilian attacker is believed to be holding out for a move to Old Trafford but the Red Devils will have to pay mega-money in order to thrash out a deal this close to the September 1 deadline.

Last week, United returned to the negotiating table by offering £67m for the 22-year-old, a bid that was immediately rejected by Ajax.

The Amsterdam giants have continually shot down talk that Antony will be sold by insisting the forward is going nowhere.

However, Antony has now made it abundantly clear that he would be keen to pursue a transfer and reunion with Erik ten Hag – must to the frustration of Ajax.

According to The Telegraph, the Eredivisie champions are now holding out for £84m as they seek to price United out of a move.

The Red Devils are believed to be preparing a new bid that could seriously test the resolve of the Dutch outfit.

Last weekend, Antony told Ajax that he did not want to be included for the league fixture away to Sparta Rotterdam.

He was resultantly left out of the squad and his situation remains unclear as dialogue continues behind the scenes between all parties.

Antony’s agent posted a snap of the pair tuning into United’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Monday night.

The post was then hastily deleted but some United supporters managed to screenshot the evidence as speculation continues to intensify.

United do not want to be held to ransom though and they are cautious that Ajax are looking to scare them off with their excessive demands.

Reports in Holland suggest Ajax feel United could have signed Antony earlier in the window had they firmed up their interest.

Now there is a feeling of annoyance with former boss Ten Hag, who is trying to prise one of Ajax’s best players away from the club at the start of a new campaign.

Thankfully for Ajax, United do have an alternative option in mind in the form of PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo.

PSV previously ruled that he would not be able to leave the club until after their Champions League qualification play-off against Rangers.

Movement could therefore materialise following the conclusion on Wednesday night’s match with Gakpo available for around £34m – a snip when compared with Antony’s valuation.

Ajax are secretly hoping that United pursue Gakpo as it would weaken Ruud van Nistelrooy’s squad – posing an advantage to the reigning champions.

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