Joao Felix has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Arsenal after falling out of favour at Atletico Madrid, but the Premier League giants will have to pay up or give up if they want him.
Portuguese attacker Felix became the second-most expensive teenager of all time, behind Kylian Mbappe, when he swapped Benfica for Atletico for €126 million in July 2019.
He enjoyed 15 goal-involvements in 31 games as Atleti won La Liga ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2021, but his performances have proved largely inconsistent over the last three-and-a-half years.
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United hoped to bring him in on loan for the rest of this season, without an obligation to buy but with a promise to cover 100 per cent of his €280,000 per week salary, but Atletico are having none of it.
“Atletico Madrid are demanding a £9.5 million [€10.8m] loan fee and a commitment to buy at £70.5m [€80m] from Manchester United as negotiations of Joao Felix hot up,” report the Mirror.
Joao Felix making it 5 in 5 games by opening the scoring for Atletico Madrid tonight.
He’s been linked with a summer move to Arsenal.#AFCpic.twitter.com/eebKUoA0AA
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) March 11, 2022
United’s lowball attempt
“[Man Utd] have stepped up their pursuit with agent Jorge Mendes meeting with Atleti’s CEO Miguel Angel Gil on Thursday to present United’s opening offer of a straight loan at £3m [€3.4m] and a commitment to cover the player’s wages.
READ: Man Utd and Arsenal given Joao Felix boost as Simeone’s ‘anger is increasing’
This has reportedly been rebuffed by the Spanish side, who have given United until Wednesday to match their valuation of the player. The Red Devils ate also understood to have 48 hours to match any other bid for Felix.
Arsenal see the 23-year-old as a Plan B if Chelsea pip them to Mykhailo Mudryk with Shakhtar Donetsk holding out for too much money for their star winger.
Felix might not be the No.9 United need, the Portuguese just as happy playing out wide, but with Wout Weghorst Old Trafford-bound and Jadon Sancho struggling for form and fitness, his profile would nonetheless be welcomed by Erik ten Hag.