Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United have made a bid for Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, a player Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal also want to sign in the January transfer window, according to The Mirror.
Manchester United’s bid for Arsenal target Joao Felix
The report published this evening has claimed that Manchester United have offered a straight loan of £3 million plus a commitment to cover the player’s wages.
The offer was presented by super-agent Jorge Mendes to Atleti’s CEO Miguel Angel Gil on Thursday.
Atletico Madrid’s response
Former La Liga champions Atletico have rejected it.
The Mirror have claimed Atletico have told United to pay a £9.5 million loan fee and a commitment to make the deal permanent for £70.5 million in the summer of 2023.
The Spanish club ‘want an answer from United by the middle of this week over whether they will match their valuation’, according to the report, which has added that the Red Devils ‘are understood to have first option on Felix and will be given 48 hours to match any offer presented by another club’.
The report has claimed that Arsenal want to sign Felix on loan from Atletico in the middle of the season.
The Express have also claimed interest from the Gunners in the 23-year-old Portugal international forward, adding that he earns £250,000 per week as salary.
What now?
In our view, Manchester United are unlikely to agree to pay £70.5 million for Felix.
And we do not think that Arsenal will agree to do that either.
Yes, Felix is a very good attacking player who can operate as a forward, winger or attacking midfielder, but he has not had the best of times at Atletico and needs to show in the short term what he is capable of before being worthy of over £70 million.
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