Antony: Manchester United agree €100m deal for Ajax winger

The Brazil international remains Erik ten Hag’s top transfer target with just days remaining in the window

Manchester United have agreed a total €100m (£85m) deal with Ajax for Antony, their priority transfer target in the final days of the window, with an initial €95m (£80.7m) fee plus a further €5m in add-onds.

United saw a €90m bid rejected by Ajax on Friday, which prompted the 22-year-old winger to go public with his desire to leave.

Ajax held out for a fee closer to €100m, including add-ons, for a player who Erik ten Hag identified early this summer as his preferred addition to United’s attack.

Despite Friday’s rejected bid, Ajax’s hardline stance and coach Alfred Schreuder’s reluctance to lose a key player so close to the deadline, talks between the two clubs continued over the weekend.

Antony was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 2-0 victory against Utrecht in the Eredivisie, having already missed last weekend’s win over Sparta Rotterdam, as he attempted to force through a move to Old Trafford.

Schrueder all but confirmed Ajax’s willingness to negotiate in his post-match comments after the Utrecht win, saying: “Nowadays, everything is about money. I find this sad, but this is our world. It is very sad and I don't approve of the things that are happening here.”

Antony has been eager to join United and publicly called upon Ajax to allow him to leave in an interview last Friday, after United’s €90m bid was turned down.

“During the window months, meetings continued and I also received a proposal from Ajax for contract renewal. I made it clear once again: I want to leave,” he revealed.

“I’m not asking Ajax to release me, I’m asking Ajax to sell me with the highest bid ever for Eredivisie player. I’ve been insisting on this theme since February so that the club could rebuild the team with peace of mind.”

United retain an interest in PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo but Antony has long been viewed as Ten Hag’s first-choice to reinforce his forward line.

With the transfer window set to close on Thursday, United are now expected to focus their attentions of the signing of a back-up goalkeeper, with Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka understood to be of interest.