Antony remains Man United’s priority target in attack ahead of next week’s transfer deadline but Memphis Depay is of some interest.
Manchester United are confident of signing Ajax forward Antony before next week’s transfer deadline and have not ruled out re-signing Memphis Depay.
United are expected to submit another bid for Antony, 22, in a package that could near €100million (£84.66m).
With Cristiano Ronaldo’s future still uncertain in the final week of the transfer window, United are also considering a move for the attainable Barcelona forward Depay.
Barca are prepared to sell Depay, whose contract expires next year, and the 28-year-old worked with United manager Erik ten Hag when he was an assistant coach at PSV Eindhoven.
United inserted a buy-back clause into Depay’s contract when he joined Lyon for £21m in January 2017 but never exercised the option.
Any move for Depay would signal another drastic shift in transfer strategy from United as figures at the club felt the £26.3m deal for Depay harmed them reputationally.
Depay joined United from PSV in 2015 amid much fanfare but left after 53 appearances and seven goals.
Ten Hag has highlighted the importance of character as United attempt to strengthen their squad and Depay’s personality had a habit of rubbing some teammates up the wrong way during his unsuccessful time in Manchester.
For most of the summer, United have been reluctant to meet Ajax’s valuation of Antony and club figures doubted a deal was doable at the start of July.
United’s disastrous defeats to Brighton and Brentford have prompted more proactive movement in the transfer market, with Casemiro signed for a fee rising to £70m despite Ten Hag’s fixation on Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Agency sources have suggested interest in PSV winger Cody Gakpo has been whipped up in an attempt to pressure Ajax into relenting over Antony.
Gakpo, 23, is a right-footed left winger and earlier this summer a well-placed source at United said the squad had too many players of that profile.
Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga are all right-footed and have all enjoyed their best run of form for United from the left-hand side. Gakpo also shares the same agent as Ten Hag.
Should United be successful in an expected move for Antony, this summer would be the club’s most extravagant in a transfer window.
United have already invested £139.9m by signing Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia.
