Manchester United have made a fresh offer for Ajax winger Antony as the club attempt to close a deal for the Brazilian, latest reports say. The Red Devils were accused early on in the transfer window of dragging their heels in the market – but they’ve gradually been doing some deals.

Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez have all joined so far this summer while they have had a broad agreement with Barcelona over the transfer of Frenkie de Jong for a while. The deal for De Jong is being held up by issues between the player and Barcelona, while there have been rumours he would rather stay at the Camp Nou than join Manchester United.

On top of their wranglings in the transfer market, they also have the ongoing issue of Cristiano Ronaldo wanting to leave the club on a free transfer due to his “loyalty to the club”. You’ve been there a year, mate.

But Manchester Utd could be heading in the right direction on another deal in the transfer market with Goal Brasil insisting that the Premier League club are looking “to advance the negotiation” for Ajax winger Antony.

The Red Devils have “increased the offer” for Antony past the $61 million they had already bid but they have “not yet reached” the $81 million that Ajax “requested”. Goal Brasil speculate that Man United and Ajax could take “until the last days of the European summer window” to figure out a deal as Erik ten Hag “insists on his move to Old Trafford”.

Ajax are said to be “playing hard” in negotiations as they don’t need to accept a low offer after already raising money through the sales of Lisandro Martinez, Sebastien Haller, Ryan Gravenberch, Nicolas Tagliafico and Dominik Kotarski.

Another potential complication in the deal is that Antony’s former club Sao Paulo are entitled to around 20 per cent of any profit from his transfer.

United’s arch-rivals Liverpool have also been linked with Antony and former Premier League striker Noel Whelan reckons the Reds would be “silly” not to attempt to sign the winger if he’s available this summer.

Whelan told Football Insider, “Clubs like Liverpool can’t stand still. They don’t buy players just for the sake of it. Klopp will be looking at certain players to strengthen his side even more.

“I don’t think it will block the pathway for the likes of Carvalho and Elliott. If anything, it just piles even more pressure on them to succeed and deliver in a Liverpool shirt.

“You want the best players in the world, and right now Antony is wanted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe. It’s squad depth. If a player like him is available, and Liverpool have got the funds – they’d be silly not to add him.”

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