Manchester United want to axe £86million flop Antony in the January transfer window and will listen to permanent and loan offers, according to reports. And new head coach Ruben Amorim is said to have identified Portuguese prodigy Geovany Quenda as his first-choice replacement in his rebuild at Old Trafford.
United executives are eager to offload Antony and would consider selling him to the highest bidder or loaning him out midway through the season, the Daily Star claim. He followed Erik ten Hag to Manchester from Ajax in 2022 but has failed to make the desired impact at United.
The 24-year-old has registered just 12 goals and five assists in 87 appearances, a record that has earned him the dubious distinction of being one of United’s worst-ever signings.
Amid United’s dismal start to the season, Antony has featured just five times in all competitions and slipped down Ten Hag’s attacking pecking order before the Dutchman’s dismissal last month.
The report adds that Ten Hag had questioned the £200,000-a-week player’s attitude in training and that he has become a disruptive presence within the squad.
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is believed to be keen to remove Antony from the payroll and will approve a swoop for Quenda next summer.
Quenda has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young talents since being promoted to Sporting’s senior squad by Amorim this season.
The 17-year-old has delivered several impressive performances as an inverted right-wing-back and recently received his first call-up to the Portugal senior squad.
Amorim is understandably a big fan of the versatile winger and reportedly believes he has the potential to be a huge success at United.
Quenda has recently appointed Jorge Mendes, the agent of Cristiano Ronaldo, to represent him, sparking suggestions that he could be eyeing a blockbuster transfer in the not-too-distant future.
Meanwhile, Amorim conducted his first training session at United’s Carrington HQ today (Monday), ahead of his first game in charge against Ipswich Town on Sunday.
The Portuguese, who obtained a work visa last week, has only had a skeleton squad to work with so far, which included those who have not been away on international duty.
The other players, who have been representing their respective countries, will report for club duty later this week, leaving Amorim with limited time to prepare for the journey to Portman Road.
United’s new boss has promised viewers that they will see a clear “idea” of his style of play from the first game.
“I think you will see an idea. You could like it or not, I don’t know, but you will see an idea,” Amorim explained to club media.
“You will see a positioning. You will see something that we want to reach that kind of level. You will feel that.
“We have to know that it’s like two trainings before the first match. This is the best league in the world. But if I have to say something to you, [it’s that] you will see an idea. This I can guarantee.”
