Ajax winger Antony was a transfer target for Liverpool before they signed Darwin Nunez.
That’s according to football journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Speaking to Wett Freunde about Manchester United’s interest in the 22-year-old, Romano claimed that Liverpool had been ‘working on’ the player previous to signing Nunez.
“Negotiations aren’t very far along at the moment (with United), but it sure is a name they’re considering. And I think it would be great because a lot of top clubs have been working on this player in recent months. Including Liverpool before deciding to sign Darwin Nunez,” said the journalist.
“A centre forward and not a winger like Antony, a different type of player. Liverpool have thought about him. He was a player on their roster for a long time. Of course, that won’t happen this summer. They are happy with Darwin and Fabio Carvalho.”
Romano insisted that Ajax would ask for ‘more than’ £43m for Antony this summer. He even went as far as claiming that as much as £52m may not be enough to take him from Amsterdam.
Liverpool losing options for Salah’s successor
It’s a little strange that Liverpool would sign a player like Darwin instead of Antony. As Romano alludes to, they look to be almost completely different players.
Liverpool needed a player to play centrally, and that’s what they’ve got in Nunez. But at the same time, they need to get to work on a successor for Mohamed Salah, too.
Contract talks with the Egyptian are seemingly on hold for now. Even if he does sign a new deal though, he’s already into his thirties. He won’t be around forever and, at twenty-two, Antony would look a good age to slowly take over from Mo.
As it stands, Liverpool only have youngsters Harvey Elliott and Kaide Gordon as potential left-footed right wingers.
Perhaps that’s a plan for next year, though. Salah’s situation will hopefully become clear long before the end of next season, giving The Reds time to plot a replacement.
In the meantime, it seems as though Antony could be heading to the Premier League anyway.
After losing out on Nunez to Liverpool, United will surely be keen to get this one over the line. Should he end up at Old Trafford, Liverpool will hope their decision not to pursue the Brazil international further doesn’t come back to bite them.
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