AJAX have truly dug their heels in to prevent Manchester United signing Antony.
The winger was a top priority for Erik ten Hag following his arrival in the Old Trafford dugout from the Dutch giants.
But with the Eredivisie side now asking for a whopping £84million from the Red Devils, a deal may now finally be off the table for this summer.
However, that could be a blessing in disguise for United.
Because now they can look at cheaper winger options to fill the spot we so desperately need to before transfer deadline day.
And there are four candidates at the top of the pile…
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Arnaut Danjuma
United’s initial plan was to move Jadon Sancho on to the left flank and acquire the services of Antony for the right wing.
However, Sancho can now continue to perform in his current role whilst the board focuses on adding further quality and depth to the opposite flank, which is where Arnaut Danjuma enters the shortlist of potential targets.
The 25-year-old Villarreal sensation managed ten goals and three assists in 23 LaLiga appearances last season.
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Danjuma has the capability to play as a touchline winger whilst also having the ability to play as an inside forward, possessing the incredible burst of speed and technical influence to score with both feet.
Not only that, his tactical intelligence of the game, hold-up play and aggressive approach allows him to be utilised centrally when required.
Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo is another Dutch winger that is on the rise.
He bagged double figures in goals and assists in the Eredivisie during the 2021-22 campaign, resulting in links to the likes of Arsenal, Leeds and Leicester City.
Just like Danjuma, Gakpo, 23, also has the versatility and incredible awareness on and off the ball to play on either wing or up front as the lone forward.
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His dribbling ability and his quick feet on the ball has resulted in him being a one-man attack for PSV Eindhoven on a regular basis.
When compared to the rest of the squad, Gakpo completed the most key passes (71), most assists (13) and most successful dribbles (77) last season in the Dutch league, showing how dependent the side were on the 23-year-old.
If he is not snapped up this summer, he will surely be one of the most wanted players next year after another productive campaign.
Michael Olise
With the recent reports suggesting that Michael Olise has a release clause of £50m, Manchester United may not have to look outside of the Premier League for a right winger.
The Crystal Palace star, 20, ranks in the top ten per cent for carries into the final third, pressures in the defensive third and progressive carrying distance across midfielders and wingers in Europe in the last year.
He has grown a lot over the last 12 months as a player, showing his confidence on the ball and assisting his team on both sides of the pitch.
Notching two goals and five assists in 26 appearances in the previous season, he will be aiming to work on his end product, which is something that will eventually arrive due to his complete skillset and proactive style of play.
Pedro Neto
For sure, potential buyers will be wary of the knee injury that Pedro Neto suffered in April 2021, which kept him out on the sidelines for nearly a year.
On the other hand, the potential he was showing before the injury cannot be ignored as a key player in the Wolves attack thanks to his link-up play, ball-carrying ability and direct style.
He really is too hot to handle when on form.
Sancho’s strengths lie in his possession-based mindset, connecting the ball towards the central players and influencing the defenders to leave their position to close him down.
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And Neto, 22, could provide the explosiveness and direct threat on the opposite wing, resulting in the perfect balance for the team.
Not only that, both players tend to switch wings throughout matches, causing confusion for opposition defences and making Neto a tricky customer indeed.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
