Manchester United transfer target Antony absent from Ajax training after €80million bid rejected

Manchester United target Antony was absent from Ajax’s training session on Friday, less than 24 hours after the Premier League giants saw an €80million bid rejected.

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Erik ten Hag has made no secret of his desire to be reunited with the 22-year-old who played a key role in Ajax’s Eredivisie title success last season.

United are said to be unmoved by Ajax’s refusal to accept their latest bid and are set to test the waters again before the transfer deadline.

Antony, meanwhile, is said to be keen to move to Old Trafford and was, intriguingly, absent from Ajax’s training session ahead of Sunday’s clash against Sparta Rotterdam, according to De Telegraaf.

The Brazil international had featured in the opening two games of the season and scored in last weekend’s 6-1 thrashing of FC Groningen.

Ten Hag has so far been frustrated in his attempts to add to United’s misfiring attack which has failed to score, bar a Brighton own goal, this season.

Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are both woefully short of form and confidence, while the future of Cristiano Ronaldo remains the subject of intense speculation.

Anthony Martial, however, who did impress during pre-season, could make his return against Liverpool on Monday.

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One former Ajax star who won’t be joining United any time soon, meanwhile, is Jurrien Timber who committed his future to his boyhood club on Thursday by signing a new contract.

Explaining his decision, he said: ‘You get a different role within the team. That