Ten Hag wants to bring Liverpool target with him to Man Utd

Will Ford
Man Utd-linked Erik Ten Hag speaks

Erik ten Hag reportedly wants to bring Ajax winger Antony with him to Manchester United if he takes charge at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag was formally interviewed by United last week as the Red Devils hierarchy step up their search for a new permanent boss to replace interim manager Ralf Rangnick.


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Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is also in the frame, while reports on Monday suggest Spain’s Luis Enrique is also one of the frontrunners to take over at Old Trafford.

Should Ten Hag take the helm, he will attempt to bring Antony with him, according to The Telegraph.

The Dutch boss is thought to have asked about United’s vision and transfer budget in the talks with the Red Devils hierarchy, with Brazil international Antony high on his wishlist.

Antony has notched 12 goals and ten assists across all competitions this season, beating his goal contribution tally of 17 last term.

Liverpool are also thought to tbe interested in the 22-year-old, despite claims in the Netherlands that top clubs would not be interested because of his “idiotic behaviour”.

Antony’s last goal came in the 87th minute to secure a comeback win over Feyenoord, with the Brazilian removing his shirt and standing on top of the advertising board.

He was booked by the referee then shown a second yellow moments later, leading to his sending off in stoppage time.

And ex-Netherlands star Rene van der Gijp claims the 22-year-old’s behaviour will not attract the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City to make a bid for him this summer.

“Suppose we are in the stands together as a scout for Manchester City or Liverpool… And we are looking at Antony, what do you think we would say when we come back on Monday?” Van der Gijp said.

“We will not take that. You don’t see a Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané or Mohamed Salah doing this? Then you can say: he is young, but it can also get crazier.”

Another ex-Netherlands international, Wim Kieft, echoed Van der Gijp’s comments.

“He is not that young anymore, because he has been doing this for two years. Such a boy cannot be calmed by a coach, in the end,” Kieft said,

“Ten Hag will of course never say that Antony behaves like an idiot, but he thinks so. In general, this behaviour is addressed in the locker room, then someone says: hey, what are you doing?”