Leverkusen keep tabs on Antony after hiring ETH but face competition from Betis

Bayer Leverkusen are monitoring developments with Manchester United winger Antony who is wanted back at Real Betis.

A move to Germany would see Antony link up with former manager Erik Ten Hag for the third time.

The Dutchman brought Antony to United for £81million in 2022, having signed him for Ajax two years earlier.

He is being lined up as a possible replacement for Florian Wirtz, who looks set to move to Anfield.

Liverpool have made a £105m offer for Leverkusen's star but they value him at  £126m.

While Antony disappointed at Old Trafford, scoring just 12 goals in 96 appearances, he has dazzled fans in his six-month stint in Spain, as he dragged Betis to the Conference League final.

The 25-year-old scored nine goals in 24 starts, earning rave review, while club legend Joaquin even joked that he would kidnap Antony to keep him next season.

The Seville-based outfit are desperate to keep Antony but will need to shell out a significant sum, which they are unlikely to afford, and fend off competition for his signature from other clubs, leaving Antony in limbo.

Remarkably, Betis's record transfer fee is still the £21.5m they paid for Denilson in 1998 - a world record at the time.

Antony is currently set to return to Old Trafford despite admitting he did not have the strength to play with his son and would go days without eating, locked in his room, while at the club.

A return to Amorim's side is not beyond the question and he was involved in all but one of the Portuguese boss's squads before his loan move.

Quizzed on his future after Betis' 4-1 defeat by Chelsea in the Conference League final in Wroclaw, Antony admitted he was still none the wiser.

'I don't what will happen in the future, only God knows,' he told CBS Sports.

'My work is playing and I'm doing that well. I have a lot of affection for Betis, for everyone, but I have a contract with United and I don't know what's going to happen.

'Now I will go to the national team and then on holiday then we will see what happens in the future. I'm very happy here, everyone knows that but I have a contract.'