Manchester United considering triggering release clause for £50m Antony replacement: report

Manchester United winger Antony reacts during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on November 1, 2023 in Manchester, England.
(Image credit: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United are set to cut their losses and replace Antony in the summer transfer window, with a £50m option available. 

Antony arrived from Ajax in the summer of 2022 for £85m, but has so far flopped at Old Trafford and failed to live up to that price tag. Despite Erik ten Hag's insistence on signing and subsequently playing the 23-year-old, Antony has struggled to adapt to English football in the last 18 months.

Plus, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is set to take over the football operations at Manchester United, reportedly wants to move the Brazilian on at the end of the campaign, and is willing to make a considerable loss on the initial investment.

Manchester United minority owner and British INEOS Group chairman Jim Ratcliffe looks on ahead of the UEFA Europa Conference League second-leg quarter final football match between Nice (OGCN) and FC Basel at the Allianz Riviera in Nice, on April 20, 2023.

Ratcliffe wants to get rid of Antony in the summer (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to TodoFichajes, Manchester United are now looking to replace Antony with Real Sociedad winger Mikel Oyarzabal in the summer, who is available for just £52m due to a release clause in his current contract.

With the 26-year-old's current deal at Real Sociedad due to expire in 2028, that price tag also represents great value for Manchester United, who have consistently overspent on transfers this past decade. 

Though not the fastest player, Oyarzabal is comfortable with the ball in tight spaces and is consistently one of the best players in La Liga. Predominantly a centre-forward or left-winger, Oyarzabal's versatility means he's more than capable of performing well at right-wing as well.

Manchester United target Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad at Estadio de San Mames on January 13, 2024 in Bilbao, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Oyarzabal is on the radar of Man United (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Spaniard is also left footed, which would suits Ten Hag's system where he prefers both wingers to cut in on their stronger foot. 

His eight goals and an assist in 19 games this term is certainly a better return than Antony's zero goals and, err, zero assists in the Premier League, while he regularly displays his leadership qualities as captain of the team, too.

More Manchester United stories 

Manchester United star poised for shock return to former club: report

Manchester United report: Bayern Munich star gives green light to become first signing of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era

Manchester United could lose £42m signing for free next summer: report

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.