PSV Eindhoven’s director of football Marcel Brands did not mince his words when he wasked to comment on Manchester United’s transfer business in the recent summer, where they had splashed £86 million to sign Antony from Ajax. United had also taken Tyler Malacia from PSV, who cost them less than £20 million.

However, the player who was largely in contention to join Manchester United from PSV was Cody Gakpo. The young winger has been registering impressive numbers and was available for half the price of Antony in the summer. However, United decided to go ahead with the Brazilian winger as Erik Ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, had already worked with him.

The winger joined from Ajax at the end of August, but has endured a mixed season which has been disrupted by injury. He has scored just three goals and failed to notch an assist in the Premier League so far this campaign. Antony cost nearly double what Arsenal paid for Gabriel Jesus, who has had a huge impact in the Gunners’ charge to the top of the table. PSV also sold Cody Gakpo, one of their star players, to Liverpool for far less than Ajax brought in for Antony.

Gakpo got off to a slow start, but has now found his scoring boots for his new club. He also scored two goals in Liverpool’s monstrous 7-0 win against United earlier this month, which led to a massive meltdown among Man Utd fans. 

“If you compare it with transfers that were realistic, such as that of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City to Arsenal: that was also around that rate (£45m). Those are normal amounts,” Brands told BNR.

“If Liverpool come for Gakpo and promises have been made, you can’t stop that. Madueke was not planned and not expected, but it came a lot of money on the table and it was Chelsea. That’s when we made that choice,” he added. 

Manchester United’s brief title ambitions in the Premier League have been drowned thoroughly after the defeat against Liverpool and the draw against Southampton recently, where Casemiro picked up his second red card of the season. However, they are still strongly in contention to pick up trophies in Europa League and FA Cup. If you are interested in not only Football news but also betting go to Nextbet.