Allan Saint-Maximin battles for possession with Antony of Manchester United during the Carabao Cup Final in 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)placeholder image
Allan Saint-Maximin battles for possession with Antony of Manchester United during the Carabao Cup Final in 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Man Utd look set to sell Antony to Real Betis but who should Ruben Amorim sign to replace him?
It didn’t take long for Ruben Amorim to work out that Antony wasn’t going to be his cup of tea and that the Brazil winger was going to be surplus to requirements at Manchester United.
The 25-year old arrived in Chesire with an £82m price tag, a fee that has only gotten worse through time and when players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are moving for £59m. There have been better players move for less money in almost every transfer window since Erik ten Hag raided his former club with a very generous offer. A loan move to Real Betis in January, thankfully, went well to the extent that the Spaniards have spent most of the summer trying to get him back. How it has taken until the closing hours of the transfer window when Betis want the player, Antony is happy with the move and United are desperate to sell him doesn’t make much sense. From the outside, it looks like the final t’s are being crossed and I's dotted.
Who should Man Utd sign if they sell Antony?
Selling Antony either on a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation to buy will not only free up wages, but it will free up transfer funds too. Given how rigid Amorim’s system is, there are still gaps in the squad and the need to sign players who are better suited. The problem is, this late in the window, signing players who clubs don’t want to let go of is probably out of the question. At one Premier League club though, there is the perfect Antony replacement in that he can play as a right wing-back to suit a 3-4-2-1 or as an out and out winger with the numbers to back up his claim.
After signing Anthony Elanga, Eddie Howe has benched a player who got him nine goals and 14 assists last season in just over 40 games with Jacob Murphy only featuring for 12 minutes so far this season. The 30-year old still has two seasons left to run on his contract, however, given his age and cover that they already have, Newcastle shouldn’t be hard to deal with. Murphy has been used in a variety of positions on the right-hand side performing admirably in every role to the extent that he must feel aggrieved at being replaced, especially when you consider his numbers are better than Anthony Gordon’s on the other wing.
Murphy wouldn’t be expensive and Newcastle would probably be willing to sell, not only would United get an experienced player who knows the league, they would be getting someone who has a proven track record and has the versatility to let Amorim change shape mid-game if he wants. As no-brainers go, there aren’t many better given the time that is left in the transfer window to get deals done.
What has been the hold up with Antony’s move to Real Betis?
Speaking on the Inside United podcast, The Athletic’s Lawrie Whitwell has explained why Antony’s move has take so long to complete and what the hold up has been as Amorim waits for the green light to replace him:
“I sound like a broken record, don't I? But yeah, I think he's wanted Real Betis, I think Real Betis have wanted him, the financials have been the issue, we're getting now to the final week, so I think there's some movement there, but yeah, how it actually looks in the final shake of things, because I think you are right, there's been discussions over permanent, but then loan with an option or an obligation, certainly United, I can't see how they would sanction a loan with an option, I think it needs to have meetable obligation clauses really, because otherwise, what's the point of doing it really? His wages are massive, it's not like they're making a Marcus Rashford type saving on his salary, so yeah, but I do think that one again will get done just exactly when, I don't know.”
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