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Ajax demand more for Red Devils target

Ajax signed Porto forward Francisco Conceicao, who has been touted as a potential replacement for Manchester United target Antony. Ajax Technical Director Gerry Hamstra has now suggested that Ajax has identified Portuguese starlet Francisco Conceicao from Porto as the long-term replacement for Antony should he depart the Dutch giants. Manchester United approached Ajax about discussing the transfer fee of star forward Antony, but Ajax is offering a bit of a fight, hoping to keep him another season. Earlier this month, GOAL reported Manchester United had offered PS 51m for the Manchester United-targeted Antony. Still, the initial offer fell PS 20m short of Ajax’s valuation of the former Sau Paulo starlet.

Manchester United reported target to sign Antony is someone similar to Eric Ten Hag, meaning that United went ahead with the bidding for the striker. This was followed up with a revised offer from the Red Devils, but this also seemed to fail. Ajax Amsterdam summarily rejected Manchester United’s initial PS 50m bid. Despite a club’s position unwilling to allow a frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo to go, United was looking in the market for a new striker. The Old Trafford transfer window has seen three players arrive. Lisandro Martinez is on track to be Man United’s third signing of the summer after signings Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen. Ajax, meanwhile, already found their Lisandro Martinez replacement by signing Calvin Bassey from Rangers.

Since arriving at Old Trafford’s dugout, Erik Ten Hag has had Antony on his wish list. If an opportunity to sign United targeted Antony comes up this transfer window, given Ajax’s transfer of Conceicao, ten Hag would probably like to see the club’s hierarchy sanction the pursuit. Francisco Conceicao is yet another example of taking the heir apparent, in this case, Antony, in his own choice. Ajax Technical Manager Gerry Hamstra could imagine the thinking going along with the Portuguese slightly quicker than it would with the guy from South America. Ajax is in Spain and Porto too, with our scouting, explained Ajax technical manager Gerry Hamstra in an interview.

Ten Hag’s life has been made more difficult by United’s inability to qualify for the Champions League last season. That setback has had a significant impact on the club’s profits as well as their subsequent spending ability. Furthermore, it has harmed their chances of securing a lot of prospects. United undoubtedly believes they deserve their spot among the greatest teams in the world. However, they look less appealing to their top targets without Champions League football. That is undoubtedly one limiting their attempts to sign De Jong.