Klopp wanted £200k-p/w Utd man to be Salah’s successor for Liverpool, trusted journo confirms

It seems as though Manchester United weren’t the only club to be fooled by Antony’s Ajax performances prior to his Old Trafford move in 2022.

Erik ten Hag pushed and pushed for the Red Devils board to do whatever it took to sign the winger two-and-a-half years ago, with the Dutchman keen to reunite with his former protegee just three months after he departed Amsterdam to get to work in Manchester.

Given that Antony was a consistent and exhilarating performer for Ajax at the time, they were understandably reluctant to let him go – especially as United’s pursuit came in the final days before the deadline, leaving them no time to scout a replacement. As such, they set his price tag at a whopping £85 million, knowing that there was only one club foolish enough to fork out such a fee.

And that they did. United paid an initial £80.75m to welcome the Brazilian to M16 while also pledging an additional £4.25m in add-ons. He would go on to score in his opening three Premier League matches before embarking on a downward trajectory that he’s yet to rise from.

How Liverpool dodged a bullet with Jurgen Klopp’s Antony interest

Today, trusted Liverpool reporter Paul Joyce has revealed that Antony was indeed a target for the Merseyside club a matter of months before his United transfer.

Liverpool had hit a roadblock in contract negotiations with talisman Mohamed Salah, prompting Jurgen Klopp to put forth the prospect of signing Antony as a young successor to the Egyptian. 

Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, eventually opted to meet Salah’s demands – and they were right to do so. He has added 73 goal contributions – 45 goals and 28 assists – to his tally in the Premier League alone since penning a three-year extension, while Antony’s record makes for utterly dismal viewing for the United faithful: five goals and three assists in 56 appearances.