Anthony Signing Would Prove Manchester United Shouldn’t Have Signed Jadon Sancho

Erik ten Hag knows what he likes and that is evident in the names to have been linked with Manchester United this summer. A number of the Dutchman’s former players are believed to be on the radar of the Old Trafford club with Frenkie de Jong, Jurrien Timber, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt all mentioned as potential targets.

Anthony has also been strongly linked with ten Hag keen to strengthen his United squad on the right wing. However, it was only last summer that the PremierPINC
League outfit spent £73m to address this deficiency. Indeed, Jadon Sancho was seen as Manchester United next great right winger. That is the position he was signed to fill.

This was before Sancho started to produce his best performances for his new team on the left wing and United’s interest in Anthony suggests that’s where the England international will stay under ten Hag. The signing of Anthony this summer would prove the signing of Sancho last summer was a mistake.

Of course, Anthony and Sancho are both talented players who could be an important part of Manchester United’s team over the coming years. While Sancho started slowly, he grew into his role on the left side, particularly after the interim appointment of Ralf Rangnick who recognised how to get the best out of the former Borussia Dortmund winger.

Sancho certainly gives ten Hag a lot to work with while Anthony is a player he has already coached to great success during their time together at Ajax. With Anthony on one side and Sancho on the other, Manchester United would boast one of the strongest attacking lines in the Premier League next season.

United’s transfer strategy since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson has been incoherent. They have spent over £1 billion new signings, but that money hasn’t made much of a difference on the pitch. Ten Hag has been brought in to turn around the fortunes of an expensively assembled squad that could only finish sixth in the Premier League last season.

It might take some time for ten Hag to make his mark on the Manchester United squad, but the signing of Anthony from Ajax this summer would almost certainly give him a better chance of immediate success. The Brazilian knows what ten Hag wants. He is a player forged by the ideas and methods of the former Ajax manager.

As demonstrated by their weakness in the final third last season, United need ball carriers who can find space in tight areas. This is where Anthony does his best work. The Brazilian knows how to play in quick transition, but is also very useful at playing through a low defensive block, the kind of which Manchester United frequently face.

At least one new central midfielder, a centre back and possible a centre forward are reportedly on Manchester United’s shopping list for the summer window, but if the Old Trafford support expect a brand of exciting, attacking soccer the signing of a new right winger should also be a priority. Anthony would fit the bill in many ways.