Liverpool and Manchester United receive £68M transfer blow

Liverpool and Manchester United will battle to sign Ajax forward Antony as the Dutch club refuses to sell for anything less than their £68M valuation.

Both clubs have shown interest in signing the Brazilian but it will take a huge fee to sign him unless they come forward with a big offer.

For Jurgen Klopp, this is a blow to his reported interest but it's a much bigger blow for Erik ten Hag as United do not have the attacking depth Liverpool do.

The Reds can all on Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho in attacking roles.

Their rivals from Manchester, however, have Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho. Anthony Martial, Anthony Elanga and while Cristiano Ronaldo remains a United forward, he has shown a desire to leave Old Trafford one year after his return to the club.

Ajax refuse to budge on £68M Antony price tag

According to the Daily Express, Ajax are refusing to sell for less than £68M and so it currently seems as though he will spend another year in Amsterdam.

They claim that Manchester United are the only Premier League club to have "actively explored" a deal to sign the 22-year-old although other reports have claimed otherwise.

According to UOL Esporte back in June, Liverpool were planning how best to "advance conversations" over a deal to sign Antony.

More recently, Liverpool made an approach to Ajax but are unwilling to meet their high asking price.

United could be forced to consider alternative transfer targets if they want to reinforce ten Hag's attacking options before the start of the Premier League season.

Ajax stance on selling Antony after Lisandro Martinez sale

“No, no,” said Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder when asked if he was concerned Antony would leave.

"We have sold a certain amount of players and I am expecting nobody else to leave.

“We talk on a daily basis. It would be bad for us if we would lose another starting player."

The Amsterdam club is in a powerful position and are not forced to sell for anything less than their £68M valuation so Manchester United - and Liverpool if they're actually genuinely interested - will battle to sign him.