Arsenal and Manchester United face paying Atletico Madrid a colossal fee just to sign Joao Felix on loan in January. The Premier League rivals are exploring a transfer for the forward.
That is according to ESPN, which reports Atletico Madrid are ready to make Felix available for a mid-season move. But the La Liga giants would demand that any club wishing to hire the Portugal star agrees to cover his £155k-a-week wage in full on top of paying a loan fee.
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So, a move just to hire Felix on loan for six months could cost his temporary suitors around €22m (£19.5m). Thus, the fee in question may prove problematic for Manchester United’s pursuit next month. The Old Trafford outfit are targeting loan deals with funds likely tight.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is sympathetic to his side’s financial issues after they backed a vast outlay in the off-season. But the Dutchman is determined to sign a new forward over the winter after releasing Cristiano Ronaldo. So, loan moves are likely to be their best bet.
Felix’s Atletico Madrid teammate Alvaro Morata is another name on the Red Devils’ list of attacking targets. But Manchester United are likely to only target the Spaniard if he is also made available on loan. A situation that would appear questionable if Felix were to leave.
Arsenal could deny Manchester United with a transfer for Felix of Atletico Madrid
Arsenal, then, could deny Manchester United two of Ten Hag’s targets if Mikel Arteta were to sign Felix and Atletico Madrid retain Morata in January. Duncan Castles has reported in the Daily Record that the Gunners are in talks with the Colchoneros over a swoop for Felix.
Arteta is exploring the Portuguese’s availability after they lost Gabriel Jesus for up to four months following his knee surgery. While Fabrizio Romano has also reported that Arsenal are in talks with Felix’s agent, Jorge Mendes. They are, likewise, exploring a loan deal, too.
The north Londoners are reluctant to pay the €100m (£88m) that Atletico Madrid will likely demand for a permanent transfer. They paid Benfica £113m to sign Felix as the third-most expensive move of all time in 2019. He also agreed to sign a contract running to June 2026.
But a clash of styles between Felix’s and that of manager Diego Simeone has seen the 28-cap Portugal star struggle in Spain. While Morata has called the 23-year-old a ‘special’ star, he has only scored 33 and created 18 goals over 129 outings across all competitions so far.
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