REVEALED: Man United PULLED OUT of bidding war for Liverpool-bound Darwin Nunez after deeming the £85m price too expensive – and now turn to Ajax winger Antony and Derby’s Malcolm Ebiowei
Manchester United pulled out of the race for Darwin Nunez after deciding against being held to a bidding war with Liverpool, Sportsmail can reveal.
Nunez is expected to complete an £85million switch from Benfica to the Reds, signing a six-year deal in the process, on Tuesday – in what will be a club-record buy for the Anfield outfit.
Manchester United were in the running for the Uruguayan striker too but withdrew interest after deeming the asking price as too high, rather than being rejected by the 22-year-old.
Manchester United rejected getting into a bidding war with Liverpool-bound Darwin Nunez
Nunez is set to join Liverpool on Tuesday in a club-record £85million deal from Benfica
Nunez’s agent invited United to engage in a bidding war with Liverpool but they declined that
Sportsmail can detail that they were invited into a bidding auction by the player’s agents but declined to engage – therefore making the club not an option for the player.
United have moved on to other targets with Ajax winger Antony and Derby County’s Malcolm Ebiowei at the forefront.
As revealed last month, Ebiowei, 18, has four teams clamouring for his signature with Tottenham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace also keen.
Ebiowei’s emergence was one of the bright spots of Derby’s season which ended with relegation to League One following their brave fight to beat the drop after being hit with a 21-point deduction.
Derby starlet Malcolm Ebiowei is wanted by a host of top-flight club ahead of the summer
United, Newcastle, Tottenham and Crystal Palace are in a four-way tussle for the 18-year-old
But his short-term deal expires this month and Ebiowei, who has played for England and Holland at youth level, is set to leave the Pride Park club.
Like Ebiowei, Antony is an inverted right winger. The Ajax star knows new United boss Erik ten Hag very well following their two seasons together at the Dutch giants.
According to Goal Brasil, the player’s representatives have flown to Europe to try and speed up a potential deal with the player…