Ajax will reportedly move for AS Roma attacker and Fulham target Justin Kluivert as a replacement for Antony, with Manchester United in talks to sign the 22-year-old attacker.
According to De Telegraaf, the Dutch giants are eager to re-sign their former academy star should United strike a deal to sign Antony, with the Red Devils in advanced talks to sign the Brazilian international as part of Erik Ten Hag’s rebuild of the Manchester giants.
United have had a reported €90m (£75m) bid rejected for Antony already, and it is expected that the Old Trafford side will make an improved offer in the coming days, and this transfer could now have a major effect on Fulham with Ajax now eyeing a move for Kluivert.
The Cottagers have been in talks with the AS Roma winger for the past few weeks, with Kluivert reportedly agreeing on a move to Fulham earlier in the week, however, United’s move for Antony and Ajax’s subsequent interest in their former Dutch star could put a move on hold.
Indeed, whilst Kluivert looks open to playing in the Premier League, a return to Ajax to replace Antony with the Eredivisie side in a much better state than when the winger left the club could be an appealing move, especially with UEFA Champions League football on the agenda this season.
With Ajax also having the capacity to match any wage Fulham is offering Kluivert, there’s a strong chance that Marco Silva’s side could now miss out on the Dutch international, with United to blame as the Red Devils ramp up their interest to sign Antony.
Ajax signing Kluivert will be a massive blow for Fulham
After losing in dramatic circumstances to Arsenal this weekend, the last thing Fulham wanted was to miss out on a top transfer target in Kluivert, yet with Ajax now eyeing the Roma outcast, this could well become a possibility should United manage to sign Antony in the coming days.
Whilst it wouldn’t be the end of the world for Fulham, Kluivert would have been a solid addition for Silva’s squad for their return to the Premier League, yet with Ajax an obviously more alluring destination for the winger, the west London side could face an uphill battle to secure the winger’s signature this summer.
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