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Manchester United 'to complete double deal for Frenkie de Jong, Antony'

Man United 'to complete double deal for Frenkie de Jong, Antony'
© Reuters
Manchester United are confident of signing both Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong and Ajax's Antony this summer, according to a report.

Manchester United are reportedly in advanced talks over summer deals for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ajax attacker Antony.

The Red Devils are due to begin pre-season training at the end of June under their new head coach Erik ten Hag, and a number of players have been linked with moves to Old Trafford over the last few weeks.

De Jong is said to be the club's leading midfield target, and Ten Hag has allegedly convinced the Netherlands international to make the move to Old Trafford.

According to talkSPORT, the 25-year-old will join the 20-time English champions this summer and is set to be followed to the club by Ajax attacker Antony.

"I think United are definitely in for Antony. His numbers for much of the season were decent, I think he missed the end of the campaign injured but he's obviously someone that Erik ten Hag knows well," said journalist Alex Crook.

Ajax attacker Antony pictured in September 2021© Reuters

"There's been talk of a £40m bid going in for him, certainly my sources at United haven't distanced themselves from those rumours so I think Antony is a target.

"In fact I've had a text from somebody else saying if he doesn't become a Manchester United player this summer I would be surprised.

"I think at the moment him and Frenkie De Jong look like two definite arrivals at Manchester United and are two players that Ten Hag clearly trusts and believes he can get the best out of."

Antony starred under Ten Hag at Ajax during the 2021-22 campaign, scoring 12 times and registering 10 assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.

The Brazil international, who still has three years left to run on his contract in Amsterdam, netted eight times and provided four assists in Ajax's title-winning Eredivisie season, while he also contributed two goals and four assists in seven Champions League outings en route to the last-16 stage of the competition.

Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in the right-sided attacker, but Man United are allegedly at the head of the queue and are in talks with his representatives.

Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong warms up in May 2022© Reuters

De Jong was again a vital player for Barcelona during the 2021-22 campaign, scoring four goals and registering five assists in 46 appearances in all competitions.

The Netherlands international still has more than four years left to run on his contract at Camp Nou, meanwhile, but the Catalan outfit are said to be open to selling him this summer in order to boost their transfer budget, and the midfielder's exit could help them sign Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.

Man United are believed to have already failed with an opening offer of £60m for the former Ajax youngster but are preparing to return with a fresh bid in the coming days.

Ten Hag is believed to have promised De Jong that he would be a key player at Old Trafford, with the new head coach looking to build his team around the Dutchman.

De Jong, who is currently with his national team for their UEFA Nations League fixtures, has represented Barcelona on 139 occasions in all competitions, providing 13 goals and 17 assists.

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Written by
Matt Law

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Robert Lewandowski in action for Bayern Munich in February 2022
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
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9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
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