After Casemiro, Man Utd eye Ajax’s Antony 

Ajax expect Manchester United to increase their offer for their Brazil forward Antony to €100 million (£84.9 million) as the Premier League’s bottom club scramble to strengthen their squad before next week’s transfer deadline.

The Dutch champions have already rejected bids of €60 million and €80 million from United for a player identified by manager Erik ten Hag as a priority signing.

Antony, who is contracted to Ajax until 2025 and scored eight league goals in 23 appearances under Ten Hag last season, is pushing the Amsterdam club to agree to the sale.

He trained alone on Friday and told Dutch media that he was unable to commit himself to Ajax.

“I can’t [commit],” Antony told De Telegraaf. “Now I am focusing on playing football and I have put all other matters in the hands of my agents and my brother. They will advise me on what is best.”

Ajax valued Antony at €80 million when United bid for him in early July, but have increased their asking price as there is limited time to secure a replacement.

United, who play Liverpool at Old Trafford tomorrow night, are bottom of the Premier League after back-to-back defeats by Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford.

Their owners, the Glazer family, are under increasing supporter pressure to sell the club to the billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who was born in Greater Manchester and supports United.

In response, the Glazers have sanctioned a flurry of high-value offers for new players. On Friday, United agreed terms with Real Madrid for the transfer of the Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro.

Casemiro will receive a substantial increase on his €9 million Madrid salary to leave the European and Spanish champions. United switched their attention to the 30-year-old after failing to persuade long standing target, Frenkie de Jong, to join them from Barcelona.

United are also understood to have failed with an offer of €135 million for Atletico Madrid’s young Portuguese forward João Félix.

Sources involved in the club’s transfer planning say that United are “looking at a lot of players” as they seek immediately available solutions to early problems under Ten Hag. The club is also under pressure from discontented senior players.

Cristiano Ronaldo is continuing to push for an exit to a club qualified for the Champions League, and Paris Saint-Germain are courting Marcus Rashford.

Unhappy with Ronaldo’s behaviour and motivation, Ten Hag has shifted his stance and is open to selling him. Rashford has encouraged PSG in conversations over a proposed move, and the highly experienced Israeli agent Pini Zahavi now understood to be operating as an intermediary. United have insisted that Rashford is not for sale.

Antony’s relationship with Ten Hag could help in pushing through a deal. He also told De Telegraaf about his respect for his former manager.

“Manchester United will improve at his hand. At his previous clubs, he has proven that his method works,” Antony said.

“Erik has been super important to me. I am grateful to him and I will always cheer for Erik after working so closely together. I have not been able to celebrate or cheer for him as he got no points yet. I couldn’t until now anyway and that makes me sad. But knowing Erik, I am convinced that he will turn the tide soon.”