Ajax chief Gerry Hamstra has insisted they are not interested in selling Antony to any suitors, including Manchester United, but did leave a little doubt on the situation.
The Dutch giants have seen a host of players leave again this summer, with Lisandro Martinez, Sebastien Haller, Ryan Gravenberch, Nicolas Tagliafico, Noussair Mazraoui and Andre Onana all departing.
Martinez is the biggest exit so far, joining Manchester United in a £51.63m deal and reuniting with Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
He’s not the only Ajax star to have been linked with the move as numerous reports have suggested United are also keen on Antony.
“We want to keep this group together. I am assuming that nobody will leave from this core,” Soccer Nieuws report him saying to Voetbal International.
“Of course, you can never say never, I have learned that. But we also talk to the players about it and have discussions. Also with guys who might have a wish to leave.
“And that Ajax players are in demand, that is logical, there is capital on the pitch. They are all boys who have developed further with us.”
According to SN, the message between the lines from those comments is that Ajax are not changing their stance on the Brazilian forward.
Only an offer of €80m will be enough to get Ajax to ‘take a seat’ at the negotiating table and that’s a figure which could be too much for Manchester United.
Thus there is a good chance that Antony will be staying at the Johan Cruijff ArenA this summer, unlike several of his now former teammates.
