Manchester United set to bid again for Antony

Manchester United are expected to submit another bid for Ajax forward Antony.

United manager Erik ten Hag earmarked Antony, 22, as his priority target in attack at the start of the transfer window and Ajax are holding out for an offer of around €100million (£84.15m).

Antony would have been attainable for €80m had United not already furnished Ajax with £46.8m up front for centre-back Lisandro Martinez.

Also read: Ten Hag has taken the first major step to leave his imprint on the United side

Ajax's bargaining position is strong ahead of next Thursday's deadline as they have also banked £16m from Bayern Munich for Ryan Gravenberch and £29m from the sale of Sebastian Haller to Borussia Dortmund.

United have so far failed to strengthen up front, with playmaker Christian Eriksen their only attack-minded addition so far this summer.

Ten Hag wants to recruit a left-footed forward as there is an acceptance at United they have too many attackers of an identical profile. Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Anthony Elanga have all enjoyed their finest runs of form from the left wing.

Antony has scored 21 goals for Ajax since arriving from Sao Paulo two years ago but was omitted from the matchday squad for their weekend win at Sparta Rotterdam amid his desire to join United.

"I want to keep everyone and I want Antony to stay," Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder told ESPN on Sunday. "I don't expect him to be sold."

Antony was captured watching United's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Monday night in an Instagram story with his agent, Emerson Santos.

United had a bid rejected for Bologna forward Marko Arnautovic earlier this month before they withdrew their interest following a backlash from supporters on sporting and