Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, was reportedly contemplating replacing Mohamed Salah with Manchester United’s Antony three years ago.
Also Read: Chelsea Set to Launch £35m Bid for Liverpool Star in Goalkeeper Revamp
This came amid the ongoing contract negotiations between Liverpool and Salah, who is set to have his current deal expire at the end of the season.
Salah had previously signed a three-year contract extension in July 2022, which saw him earning over £350,000 per week.
However, during the initial stages of those negotiations, an agreement seemed uncertain, leading Klopp to explore potential replacements for the Egyptian forward. Antony, who had been performing well at Ajax, emerged as one of the options.
Just eight weeks later, Antony made his high-profile move to Manchester United for a reported £82 million, following a strong campaign at Ajax. Despite this hefty price tag, Antony’s time at United has been far from smooth.
The Brazilian winger has only managed 12 goals in 87 appearances, with his form often inconsistent. This season, he has struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting lineup, with limited appearances under Erik ten Hag, including just one Carabao Cup start and four substitute appearances in league and Europa League matches.
Antony’s inability to fulfill the promise that made United invest so heavily in him has led to speculation about his future. The club is reportedly open to selling him in the upcoming January transfer window.
Former United player Gary Neville has criticized Antony as one of the worst transfers in the club’s history, suggesting that the £140-150 million spent on him and fellow midfielder Casemiro could be seen as panic buys following early season losses to Brentford and Brighton.
Neville also pointed to these transfers as key factors that pushed United back into the market to sign new players like Manuel Ugarte.
While Klopp’s potential interest in Antony now seems like a distant thought, it serves as an interesting insight into the transfer discussions that took place when Salah’s future at Liverpool was uncertain.
With Liverpool currently negotiating Salah’s contract renewal, the possibility of finding a worthy replacement is likely still on the minds of Klopp and the Liverpool hierarchy.