Unusually in the post-Fergie era, there has at least appeared a semblance of a transfer strategy at Manchester United this summer, albeit a rather limited one. The club has prioritised moves for players who have worked with Ten Hag previously – Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen, who trained at Ajax prior to joining Brentford – or in the case of Tyrell Malacia, someone who caught the eye with another Dutch club. Casemiro is the exception to the rule.
Brazilian winger Antony looks set to become United’s next major signing and he too fits the Ten Hag blueprint after spending the past two years in Amsterdam. United have agreed an £85m deal for the 22-year-old which will make him their second most-expensive signing ever behind Paul Pogba and take the club’s spending this summer beyond the £200m mark.
It’s a significant deal that demonstrates the club’s complete commitment to the Ten Hag project. Antony has been tipped as a potential start of the future for some time: from his breakthrough at Sao Paulo to winning Olympic gold with Brazil to starring in an Ajax side that won back-to-back Eredivisie titles.
Ten Hag described him as “the next star of Ajax” when he was signed to replace Hakim Ziyech – who will ironically now fill his boots at the Johan Cruyff Arena – and while the manner of his departure will have left a sour taste in the mouths of supporters, he was undoubtedly a big success in Dutch football.
A return of 18 goals and 14 assists in 57 league games is evidence of the winger’s efficiency and United are in need of more game-changers at the top end of the pitch.
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And fairly or otherwise, the size of the fee will inevitably raise expectations on Antony. His future teammate Harry Maguire knows only too well how big a burden an £80m plus price tag can be, the Theatre of Dreams turning into a Theatre of Nightmares for the deposed club captain.
Analysis: How United proved they can cope with adversity at St Mary’s
By Daniel Storey, i‘s chief football writer
A mighty important result, for three obvious reasons: 1) Erik ten Hag needed to demonstrate that beating Liverpool, at a raucous Old Trafford, was not a one off; 2) Manchester United have been rotten away from home over the last six months – this ended a run of seven straight away league defeats during which United scored two goals; 3) They needed to prove that they could cope with adversity.
That last point is the most important one, because that’s where Manchester United’s first three summer signings will make a difference. Tyrell Malacia must show that he can cope with Premier League wingers. Lisandro Martinez must cope with crosses into the box. Casemiro is excellent at many things, but he might just be the best player in the world at breaking up play when his team is under pressure.
United did that at Southampton, but the next stage is to avoid inviting that pressure in the first place. After Bruno Fernandes’ goal, United did not attempt another shot. Southampton had 10 and Ten Hag’s side completed less than 60 per cent of their passes. They were panicked and they looked flustered and, ultimately, they came through it unscathed. But against better, older and more ruthless attacks they will struggle to do so. They will rely upon the new signings, particularly Casemiro. But they must try and have more control with their lead to help him.
This is an excerpt from The Score, Daniel Storey’s weekly verdict on all 20 Premier League teams’ performances. Sign up here to receive the newsletter every Monday morning
It’s a gamble on Ten Hag’s part too. Backing Martinez to adapt to the rigours of English football was a bold move given his height but one that looks more likely to succeed than it did a fortnight ago in Brentford. Likewise, it is asking a lot of a young winger untested in the big leagues to consistently make match-defining contributions.
Ten Hag may well have felt aggrieved at the lack of incomings prior to the Brighton and Brentford beatings, but the arrivals of Casemiro and Antony should ensure the squad at the end of the window is far stronger than it was at the start. Given the lengths to which United have gone to prise Antony from Ajax’s grip, Ten Hag has staked his managerial reputation on the Brazilian succeeding. And it could come to define his United tenure.
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