"I'm told..": Fabrizio Romano drops big MUFC transfer claim that'll leave ETH gutted – opinion

Fabrizio Romano has dropped a big Manchester United transfer claim which will leave new manager Erik ten Hag gutted.

A move for Ajax star Antony might not be as straightforward as Ten Hag thinks, according to the Italian journalist.

Sky Sports recently reported that United have made enquiries to Ajax about the player, with some suggestions that the Premier League club would bid €50m (£42.8m) for the 22-year-old, but there has been no progress on that front in recent days.

Romano told GiveMeSport: “The real point is about Ajax because Ajax would love to keep the player for one more season. They want an important fee for Antony. When I see about a potential proposal for €45m or €50m, I’m told Ajax actually want way more than this for the Brazilian, so it’s not going to be an easy one.”

This is a potential blow to Ten Hag and his transfer plans for the Brazilian, with a much bigger fee now being demanded in order to secure his services.

The Ajax player would likely fit in well at United, having worked under Ten Hag in Amsterdam, and he could offer an extra dimension to their struggling attack.

The only Red Devils forward to score more than ten goals last season was Cristiano Ronaldo (24), and this is an area which needs improvement if they wish to get back to winning trophies.

Antony scored 12 times in all competitions and grabbed a further ten assists, and if he did make the move to Old Trafford, there seems little doubt that he could replicate or even better these numbers.

As per FBRef, the Ajax winger ranks in the top 1% for both assists (0.78) and total shots (4.08) per match among positional peers in major European competitions last season, displaying his attacking attributes on a consistent basis.

The 22-year-old also