Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insists they didn't blindside Ajax signing Antony.

United signed the Brazilian for £85m in the summer after prolonged negotiations, with Ajax doing all they could to hold onto their star man.

Ten Hag has hit back at his former club - and claimed they were fully prepared for the Brazilian to leave in the summer - while he revealed the Red Devils had been targeting the winger long before his arrival.

"Antony's departure couldn't have been a surprise for Ajax," he told Voetbal International.

"In January they already knew he would leave in the summer. We had three names on the list for the right forward position, he was already on the list at Manchester United before I arrived."

Ten Hag added: "Antony's management was very clear to Ajax [in January]. They said: 'In 6 months time, Antony will make a transfer'.

"Then we started working on getting another Brazilian in to replace Antony, and Steven Bergwijn."