Manchester United will use Antony as an asset in a deal for his foreign teammate, while Liverpool are keen to sign a young German. . .
Antony has been through a disappointing spell at Old Trafford since completing an £85m transfer from Ajax in 2022, with Brazil contributing four goals and two assists in 33 games so far. First division matches.
The 23-year-old is yet to contribute to any league goals this campaign as Man Utd have struggled to get off to a smart start under Erik ten Hag this season.
And now the Daily Mirror insist that Man Utd ‘are willing to offer Antony in part exchange on loan’ in order to sign Gabigol in the winter transfer market.
Gabigol has scored an impressive 153 goals in 265 appearances in all competitions for Flamengo since joining the club from Inter Milan in 2019, first on loan, before completing an €18. 5m permanent transfer in 2020.
Man Utd have struggled to score goals this season, with only Crystal Palace scoring fewer in the most sensitive part of the Premier League table. £72m summer signing Rasmus Hojlund, who has inspired at times, is yet to take off in the Premier League this season and the Red Devils are looking to loan him something in January.
The Daily Mirror adds that Man Utd ‘are now drawing up plans for January’ with the Red Devils ‘considering cut-price deals as they aim to add more attacking options’.
And Gabigol is “available at a £20m discount as his contract expires at the end of 2024” with Brazilian club Flamengo “interested in getting fellow Brazilian Barbosa Anthony out of United’s hands on loan in partial exchange for the striker”.
It is possible that the Reds will move up to second in the Premier League if they beat Luton Town on Sunday and Jurgen Klopp is already preparing moves for next summer.
The Daily Star reports that Liverpool “struggled to sign” Wirtz, who is valued at £80 million via Bundesliga side Leverkusen.
The 20-year-old has contributed six goals and eight assists this season, adding a goal in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Hoffenheim as Leverkusen’s most sensible in the Bundesliga standings.
Man Utd are “out of the question” to sign Wirtz after Ralf Rangnick’s departure from Old Trafford “saw United stage a coup d’état”, and the youngster now believes he “has much more important characteristics on the table”.
Bayern Munich and Manchester City were the early favourites to sign Wirtz but ‘news of Liverpool’s growing interest has altered the picture’. It is understood that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp ‘is a huge admirer of the free-scoring left winger and regards him as one of very few who could potentially fill Mo Salah’s record-scoring boots’.
The report adds: “And while Klopp has many attacking roles at the club, the opportunity to demonstrate Wirtz’s calibre would be irresistible. Klopp’s reputation in Germany and extensive contacts ensure Liverpool are a real contender for the burgeoning Bundesliga superstar.