Antony’s agent has confirmed that the winger was identified by Liverpool as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah before he joined Manchester United.
A report from The Times this week claimed Liverpool explored a bid to sign Antony while Salah dithered over a contract extension at Anfield back in 2022.
Salah, now the fifth-highest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history, went on to extend his stay on Merseyside and Antony, then with Ajax, would complete an £82million switch to Old Trafford later that summer.
It appears Liverpool dodged a bullet in the two years that have passed, with Antony falling some way short of expectations at United, and it’s understood the Red Devils are keen to offload the Brazil international in the January transfer window.
Salah, meanwhile, has further cemented his status as an all-time Liverpool great but uncertainty is growing over the Egyptian’s future once again, with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season.
‘Yes, this story has some basis in truth,’ Antony’s representative Junior Pedroso told winwin when asked about The Times’ report about his client.
Pressed on whether Antony ultimately preferred United over Liverpool, Pedroso replied: ‘No, Salah renewed his contract with Liverpool at the time and that made Anthony’s move to Liverpool impossible.’
Antony made just one start for United before Erik ten Hag’s dismissal last month, with the forward’s other four appearances coming as a substitute this season.
According to former United defender Gary Neville, the 24-year-old Brazilian has to be regarded as one of the biggest transfer flops in the club’s history.
‘I think he [Ten Hag] oversaw two of the worst transfers Manchester United will ever have made in the signings of Casemiro and Antony,’ Neville said.
‘They were signed for £140-150m in a panic after the Brentford and Brighton losses. I hope I’m wrong, I hope Casemiro can do a great job for the club for four or five years and I hope Antony comes good.
‘But those signings are why United have had to go back into the transfer market and sign [Manuel] Ugarte and other players.
‘That was the ultimate in poor management from those above Erik ten Hag. That should have been one big fat no when those two players became available for those prices and those salaries.’
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