Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly decided to target Antony and Alejandro Garnacho as he looks to reinforce Bayer Leverkusen.
Following the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, Leverkusen turned to the services of Ten Hag, who was sacked from his role in the dugout at Old Trafford in October 2024.
Ruben Amorim was appointed in his place in November that year, but after failing to qualify for Europe and finishing 15th in the Premier League, the current head coach may not be granted the funds needed to rebuild his squad.
The Portuguese faces the prospect of having to sell a number of stars in order to raise money for summer purchases, though players such as Garnacho and Antony are out of favour and would not necessarily weaken the squad should they depart.
Kicker reports that Ten Hag is keen on reuniting with both players, though a move for Antony is said to be more likely following internal discussions.
© Imago
Can United raise enough money to fund a rebuild?
While Bayern Munich have traditionally been seen as the financial powerhouse of German football, Leverkusen are set to receive an influx of revenue given Liverpool have signed Jeremie Frimpong and have bid more than £100m for Florian Wirtz.
After Antony's impressive exploits with Real Betis in the second half of 2024-25, it would not be surprising if Ten Hag was provided with significant funds to sign the Brazilian.
However, Garnacho's sale would be far more beneficial to United considering his status as a home-grown player means any income from his exit would better help the club comply with the Premier League's financial rules.
Marcus Rashford is reportedly of interest to Barcelona, and he is also homegrown, making him a viable candidate to leave Old Trafford.
None of the above trio played a significant role under Amorim and their exits are unlikely to impact the team negatively, but the sale of Bruno Fernandes has also been touted.
The United captain ended the season as the Red Devils' top scorer (19) and assist provider (18) in all competitions, and his exit would be damaging.
Regardless of the 30-year-old's importance in the squad, Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal are reportedly willing to spend in the region of £100m to secure his services, and such a sum could prove difficult to turn down.
There are a number of potential exits that could fund a significant rebuild, but it remains to be seen if United would spend the money they receive in a fiscally responsible manner.
Lewis Nolan
