Erik ten Hag seemed to hint that he would be interested in taking Ajax duo Jurrien Timber and Antony to Man Utd during his final interview as the Dutch side’s manager.
The 52-year-old was confirmed last month as the new permanent Red Devils manager and will take over from Ralf Rangnick at the end of the season following their final match against Crystal Palace.
However, Ten Hag confirmed yesterday that he would begin work today at Man Utd as he looks to assess the “make-up of the staff and the composition of the squad”.
There have been rumours that Ten Hag could take some of his Ajax players with him to Old Trafford with Timber and Antony two of their hottest properties.
Timber rose through the youth ranks at the Dutch club before making his debut at the end of the 2019/20 season and has now become key part of the squad at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, playing 43 matches in all competitions this season.
Antony, meanwhile, was signed from Sao Paulo for a fee that could rise to £18.2m in February 2020 and the Brazilian has contributed 12 goals and eight assists in all competitions this term.
When asked if he was keen on signing Timber or Antony this summer, the new Man Utd boss told De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness): “I think that all top clubs in Europe have Timber in their sights, but I think that currently applies to a lot of Ajax players.
“If Antony were to go, it would be a loss for Ajax, because you have no one in the current selection who can take over his position.”
Timber has already been linked with Man Utd with one report insisting that the Red Devils were ‘progressing in talks’ over the defender.
However, Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit doubts that Timber can “defend well enough” to make it in the Premier League.
Gullit said on Ziggo Sport: “He is a very good player, but I wonder whether he can be a defender in England. You have to play against Burnley and West Brom and strikers of the top seven clubs are all world-class.
