As The Pitch Prospect has learned, Antony turned down a move to Turkey to stay and fight for his future at Old Trafford.
Both Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce and Galatasaray sensed Manchester United’s flop when the Turkish transfer window closed last Friday.
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But the Brazilian international made it clear that he wanted to stay at United and prove that he could justify his £82 million price tag.
Antony, 24, has only played in one of United’s four Premier League games this season, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in a 2-1 defeat at Brighton last month.
He has scored 11 goals in 83 games since United signed him from Erik ten Hag’s old club Ajax in the summer of 2022, making him the second most expensive transfer in their history.
Return of the Reds hero?
Former Liverpool defender Joel Matip is keen to return to the Premier League.
A favourite with Anfield fans, Matip, who turned 33 in August, is available as a free agent after being released by the Reds at the end of last season.
West Ham are among the clubs considering a move for Matip, whose services have also been offered to Wolves and Fulham.
The Cameroonian international has 150 Premier League appearances to his name and was part of Liverpool’s championship-winning team in the 2019/20 season.
In addition, he would bring tremendous European experience to a club, having made 54 appearances in the Champions League and 19 in the Europa League.
He was part of the Reds team that won the European Championship in 2018/19, finished second in 2021/22 and also won the UEFA Super Cup in 2019.
No Hayden, no crying
Isaac Hayden’s hopes of playing at the 2026 World Cup have been dealt a blow after he was left out of Newcastle’s Premier League squad.
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Hayden, who has been at St James Park since 2016 and has made more than 150 league appearances, is one of a number of British-born players that recently appointed Jamaica coach Steve McClaren would like to call up for the Reggae Boyz.
However, it remains to be seen whether McClaren will field Hayden, even though he knows that he will not be able to play for his club until January at the earliest.
The 29-year-old is Newcastle’s only senior player not to be on the 25-man list submitted on Friday, despite being expected to be signed on loan at the start of the transfer window.
Hayden has not made a competitive appearance for the Magpies since December 2021, having since spent time on loan at Championship clubs Norwich and Queens Park Rangers, as well as Belgian side Standard Liege.
Top clubs interested in Saints starlet
Southampton are preparing for a battle to keep teenage star Tyler Dibling.
The 18-year-old made a spectacular first start in the Premier League against Manchester United on Saturday, putting Diogo Dalot under pressure and winning the penalty, which Cameron Archer saved against Andre Onana.
England U19 star Dibling was already on the radar of clubs such as Newcastle and the Saints are aware that he will attract attention if he continues to excel.
Dibling briefly left the Saints in 2022 and joined Chelsea before returning to the south coast after failing to settle in.
The Exeter-born winger is under contract until the summer of 2026 and the Saints have included an option for a further year in the agreement.