Manchester United open to shock swap deal in January involving Erik ten Hag signing

Manchester United are interested in signing Flamengo forward Gabriel Barbosa and are open to using £82 million signing Antony in a part-exchange deal.

That’s according to information from James Nursey of The Mirror, who explains that the Brazilian club want the former Ajax star on a loan deal, with Barbosa going the other way on a permanent transfer.

It was added that he is available for £20 million, with his contract at Flamengo expiring at the end of next year.

Barbosa has scored 18 goals in all competitions for the Brazilian outfit and would be an option to offer support to 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund, who is yet to score a Premier League goal for United.

Erik ten Hag signed Antony from Ajax during his first summer in charge at Old Trafford for a monumental fee and the move has not worked out so far.

The winger has zero goals or assists so far this term and appeared to be booed off the pitch at Craven Cottage on Saturday before United went on to win against Fulham. His replacement Facundo Pellistri assisted the last-minute winning goal.

Ten Hag has recently suggested that Antony has suffered due to the ‘noise’ around his name at Old Trafford.

“There was also a lot of noise and that dropped his levels. He can do better but all the players can do better,” he said.

“Antony is also a fighter, he has the confidence, he is brave and I am confident he will bring the performance that he is the right player for us.”

However, the Brazilian was the first substitute on Saturday after one of his worst performances in a United shirt. But it remains questionable that Ten Hag would look to offload the player in January with the limited amount of right-wingers in the squad.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be hoping to be instated by the time the midseason window comes, and is planning to bring in a sporting director whilst taking transfer power away from the Dutch manager.