Manchester United are constantly on the lookout for reinforcements. There are still a little bit less than two months from the start of 2024 and thus, the start of the January transfer window. But the media are, as usual, linking the Devils with numerous players the club is monitoring and could sign in the near future.
Man United Want Todibo
One of those potential new players is Jean-Clair Todibo. The French centre-back has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester, as it became clear Erik Ten Hag will need to strengthen the defence. The 23-year-old is reportedly being tracked since the last summer, when the club was looking to offload Harry Maguire. That did not materialise, so now the idea is to bring in Todibo in the summer of 2024.
The good thing is that Nice are co-owned by Sir Jim Ratcliff and his plans to become a partial owner of Manchester United could be a boost to the chances to bring in Todibo to Old Trafford. However, there are reports that Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle are all interested in the Nice defender, so United better have a strong season and finish in the top four, because that might make all the difference in signing a young defender with a lot of upside.
One of France’s best defensive prospects, Todibo joined Nice from Barcelona in 2021. Although a January move is not completely out of the question, a lot will depend on Ratcliffe’s ability to work out a deal with the Glazers before the holidays. Right now that seems unrealistic, but the good news is United at least know whom they would like to bring in to improve the defence.
Antony Going To Brazil? Probably Not
And now, one of those stories that are hard to believe. Manchester United are reportedly considering a swap deal which could see Antony leave Old Trafford and return to Brazil. The Mirror are writing about an unrealistic swap deal, which would see United bring in Gabriel Barbosa from Flamengo, sending Antony back to one of Brazil’s greatest clubs.
This would be a part-exchange loan, according to the report, but it seems hard to believe United would be going after the 27-year-old striker. It does make sense for United to improve in attack, especially after their struggles in the first few months of the campaign, and it is true they brought in only Rasmus Hojlund. But Gabriel Barbosa already had an unconvincing spell in Europe, playing for Benfica and Inter Milan.
Sure, Antony’s form in 2023-24 has been horrible, but it is also hard to believe United would be looking to offload him to Brazil after investing so much money. The Brazilian clubs are not really able to pay the sums of money afterwards which would be good enough for a club like Manchester United, so letting Antony leave Europe would not make much sense. Whether United will let Antony get elsewhere in the January transfer window remains to be seen, but the expectations would be for that next club to be in some of Europe’s top leagues.
Antony has made 54 appearances for Man United since joining in the summer of 2022 for 85 million pounds from Ajax. The right winger only managed to score eight goals in the Manchester United shirt.
Leave a Reply