Manchester United have a magic FFP number that could sway Anthony's sale

Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for Anthony this summer, but none are likely to be accepted. That's not because he doesn't meet their criteria, but because he's unlikely to reach the minimum amount allowed for a Brazilian. The magic number is around £52m. This is the remaining amount paid to United's account after the write-down. They signed him for around £86 million (at the exchange rate at the time), but that cost was spread over a five-year contract period, leaving only around £34.4 million on the books at the moment.

If United accept a bid of, say, £30 million this summer, that amount may look good on their accounts, but when it comes to their accounts and how the FFP values ​​them, it would be £2,200. It would mean a loss of £10,000. Essentially, selling Anthony for that amount would actually reduce the transfer budget, not increase it.

That's why it won't be easy to part ways with a striker this summer, even if his stay at Old Trafford turned out to be a nightmare. After 28 appearances this season, he has only one goal and one assist, both of which came in the same game against Newport County in League Two.

The 24-year-old has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League of late and has not appeared in a game since leaving the pitch at the City Ground on December 30 amid cheers of "waste of money". Not participating. . "". It's hard to agree with that assessment and he remained anonymous when he returned to Forest for the FA Cup last week.

After the recent defeat against Fulham, Anthony finds himself below Omari Forson and Amad in Ten Hag's selection, and it is difficult to see a path to a successful career at his club. He feels an inseparable bond with Ten Hag, who pushed hard for him to join United from his former club Ajax. Even if Ten Hag is replaced by Ineos this summer, it is unlikely that the new manager will want to play as a striker. The final months of this season may be Anthony's last chance to reach a level that convinces United's head of football operations that he has a future. Ten Hag believes this season has been affected by off-field issues, having had to contend with domestic violence allegations in Brazil earlier in the season. Last week, his manager gave him further support and urged him to show the "unstoppable" form of his Eredivisie days. However, it is no longer the Eredivisie and he has left little trace in the Premier League. "Anthony: I've been rooting for him for a long time," Ten Hag said. "I know what he's capable of and he has great ability. As I know, when he plays like he has in the past, you can't stop him. No defender can stop him, as he is one of the fastest players in the first 10 meters.

“He will perform well in this match. I am confident he will be successful in the future, I am confident he has resilience, character and perseverance, and I support him. From now on, he will have to wait for his chance, and as soon as the chance arises, he will have to pick up the phone.

Anthony's best hope for further success at United is that he will become virtually impossible to sell. Selling for less than £52m would be devastating at a time when the Premier League continues to struggle with revenue and sustainability regulations and the club's transfer budget could be hit by a failure to qualify for the Champions League right.

No club is likely to have enough experience over the past two seasons to make such an offer, so there are two options. Keep him for another year and hope he gets better, or consider a possible trade.

This is exactly the decision that Barcelona and Juventus agreed with Miralem Pjanic and Arthur Melo in 2020. Swapping two players of equal value would be one way to offset the blow United might take on Anthony, but it would have to be a deal that works for footballing reasons.

So despite Anthony's disappointing few years in Manchester, he has every chance of winning a third trophy next season. It would be too expensive for United to sell him.