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MANCHESTER UNITED are closing in on their first major signing of the summer with Antony on his way from Ajax in a £40million move.

SunSport understands that United officials are due in Amsterdam today to get a deal for the Brazilian over the line.

Antony looks set to follow Erik ten Hag from Ajax to Manchester United in a £40million deal
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Antony looks set to follow Erik ten Hag from Ajax to Manchester United in a £40million dealCredit: Getty

Erik ten Hag wants his former player to start his rebuild at Old Trafford to make United competitive again at the top end of the Premier League.

The winger, 22, had an outstanding last season with 12 goals and creating ten assists in 33 games in all competitions for the Dutch title winners.

Antony is also full of admiration for his former manager Ten Hag who himself made the move from Ajax to United to ignite a revival of the fallen giant.

In a farewell message to Ten Hag after his departure from Ajax, Antony posted on social media: "I want to thank you for everything you taught me.

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"Know that I will always stand with you if you need me."

United are chasing up to five players this summer, but fans are already getting nervous about their lack of transfer activity so far.

New CEO Richard Arnold went to a pub in Cheshire on Saturday to placate a group of fans who were ready to march on his house to voice their concerns.

He told them that the money is there for a rebuild, with around £200m believed to be available to Ten Hag and transfer chief John Murtough.

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Ten Hag wants not only Antony from Ajax but centre-back Jurrien Timber, although that deal is looking less likely.

Former United boss Louis van Gaal warned Timber that if he does not get enough game time at United then he will be out of his Dutch World Cup squad, which appears to have spooked the player.

United are continuing to try and land their main summer target midfielder Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.

Arnold insisted to the fans on Saturday that the club were doing everything to get the deal done.

Arnold said: "As a club we're doing everything possible to get the deal done, I've been up for days trying to get it done.

"The money is there but there's things standing in our way which I can't say."

The problems are that De Jong is not that keen on leaving the Nou Camp, while manager Xavi wants a replacement ready if he does go.

United are also not keen on paying the £64m that cash-strapped Barca paid to get him from Ajax in the first place.

The Red Devils and Tottenham are keeping tabs on Christian Eriksen’s situation after the Dane’s short-term deal at Brentford expired.

Erik ten Hag is yet to confirm his first major signing since taking over
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Erik ten Hag is yet to confirm his first major signing since taking overCredit: EPA
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