Manchester United stars Antony and Jadon Sancho are both taking steps to ensure their departure from Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.
The wingers, both 25, spent last season on loan at Real Betis and Chelsea respectively. But they are expected to return to Manchester this month, albeit for differing reasons.
A Spanish Resurgence
Antony enjoyed a superb loan in Spain after joining Betis in the January transfer window, immediately becoming an integral part of Manuel Pelligrini’s team.
He scored returned nine goals and five assists in 26 appearances as heled propel his adopted side to Europa League qualification and the final of the Europa Conference League – where, ironically, Betis lost 4-1 to Chelsea with Sancho scoring the third for the Blues.
Antony’s form was so impressive he earned a recall to the Brazilian national team after a two year absence and has attracted attention from major clubs across Europe, including Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and Juventus.
But the Heliopolitanos are extremely keen to keep the winger in Seville next season and are locked in negotiations with United over a new deal. They are unlikely to be able to afford the transfer fee the Reds would demand, however.
United would need to sell Antony for a minimum of £32.4 million – beyond the reach of Betis’ budget – to avoid a negative PSR hit due to the outstanding book value from his £81 million signing from Ajax three years ago.
But Antony is willing to take a 30% cut to his wages, believed to be worth around £150,000 a week, to seal a permanent exit from Old Trafford this summer, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Money Over Minutes
Conversely, Sancho is “prepared to settle to settle for a move to Italy” after Chelsea chose to pay a £5 million penalty fee to renege on their obligation to sign him for £25 million this summer following his loan to Stamford Bridge.
Sancho was unable to agree personal terms with the West London club as he was unwilling, unlikely Antony, to compromise on his wage packet with United.
The 25-year-old representatives have sounded out alternative options, including a move to Borussia Dortmund, but the Manchester Evening News contends this reunion has been “discounted.”
Instead, Sancho is focusing on a switch to Serie A with Napoli and Juventus both expressing an interest in the Englishman. United are expected to demand a “fee similar to one Chelsea originally agreed” to sanction a sale.
Whether either Italian club would be able to afford the winger remains to be seen as he evidently is prioritising his bank account off the pitch over his happiness on it, unlike his Brazilian teammate.
Featured image Fran Santiago via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
