Manchester United expecting Antony to leave on loan

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Manchester United are preparing for Antony to leave on loan before the winter transfer window closes.

There is a growing belief that the winger will secure a loan for the remainder of the season before deadline day on February 3, with Real Betis interested in Antony.

Antony became United's second-most expensive signing in 2022 when the club agreed a final fee of £86.3million with Ajax, where Antony worked with former United manager Erik ten Hag,

However, the Brazil international has seldom convinced in English football and he has started three games this season in the League Cup and the Europa League. The 24-year-old came on at half-time in the 3-1 victory against Southampton and inexplicably failed to score a tap-in.

Antony has scored one Premier League goal since April 2023 and he took a leave of absence for four weeks at the start of last season to address allegations of domestic assault. Antony denied the allegations and was cleared of any wrongdoing by police in Brazil.

United's switch to a 3-4-3 formation under head coach Ruben Amorim has further reduced Antony's chances of playing time. He has made 13 appearances this term and his only goal was a penalty against League One Barnsley in the League Cup third round.

Antony is halfway through a five-year contract and will be available for sale in the summer. United would require a fee of £32.52m to avoid a loss under the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules.

Despite Antony's peripheral role, United only have five other outright attackers and Marcus Rashford has not played in the last eight games amid his wish to leave this month.

United rejected a bid from Napoli for Alejandro Garnacho last week while strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have a meagre five Premier League goals between them this season. Amad became United's top scorer of the season with a 12-minute hat-trick to salvage victory against Southampton on Thursday night.

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