Atletico Madrid News
Manchester United willing to pay €4 million loan fee to sign Atletico Madrid ace
Atletico Madrid and Joao Felix are desperate to part ways in the winter transfer window but both parties are making the transaction difficult with their demands. The club, in particular, shocked suitors by quoting a €15 million fee for a six-month loan, effectively closing all the doors.
While Manchester United felt the number was exaggerated, they did not lose focus of their target. The Premier League side temporarily stepped out of the race hoping that one of the parties would compromise.
According to reports from GOAL, Erik Ten Hag’s side are willing to pay a €4 million fee to take the Portuguese international on loan for six months. They will cover the player’s wages in addition to the stipulated fee but are hesitant to pay anything in excess.
It is said that the deal would not have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season. Thus, it would only be a temporary solution for Los Rojiblancos who will have to go through the pain of finding a suitor for the player again in the summer.
No doubt, Manchester United’s offer is well below Atletico Madrid’s demands. The Spanish side might prefer to keep the player at Civitas Metropolitano for six more months given the current situation.
Arsenal are also said to be scouting the player’s situation and could make a late swoop. That, however, looks increasingly unlikely given Atleti’s demands.
It has been reported that Atletico Madrid would be open to keeping Felix at the club in case they do not receive a good enough offer.
But given the frosty relationship between manager Diego Simeone and Felix, as well as the forward’s desire to leave, including him in the dynamics when absolutely sure that he is not in the future plans is detrimental to his team’s growth.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid among clubs weighing up a summer move for €20 million Barcelona defender
Having successfully raided FC Barcelona for the signing of Memphis Depay during the January transfer window, Atletico Madrid could look to bring in another player from Spotify Camp Nou come summer.
Indeed, according to SPORT, Atletico are among clubs who are interested in signing Barcelona ace Sergino Dest, who is currently away on loan at AC Milan.
Dest has been out of favour at Barça since Xavi Hernandez arrived at the club back in November 2021. The USMNT right-back was sent out on loan to Milan last summer so that he can play regularly.
The Rossoneri have the option of signing the ex-Ajax man permanently for €20 million, but are unlikely to take it up as the right-back has largely underwhelmed during his time in Italy, playing just 14 games in all competitions.
But, that has seemingly not deterred clubs in La Liga, including Atletico Madrid, who are reportedly willing to take a punt on Dest in the summer.
As things stand, Atletico have Nahuel Molina as their primary right-back, but the Argentine has not been consistent enough in his debut season at the club.
Matt Doherty arrived on a free transfer from Tottenham in January but has only played 12 minutes so far, indicating where he stands in Diego Simeone’s scheme. So, a new right-back might not entirely be ruled out at the Civitas Metropolitano come summer.
Dest, though, is also attracting interest from Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal, while an unnamed MLS club also want the right-back.
Barcelona, for their part, wish to recoup the €20 million they spent on him almost three years ago, which could become a roadblock for Atletico Madrid if they do indeed pursue the right-back with greater intent.
As things stand, there is just initial interest and there is nothing concrete from Atletico or any clubs. Only time will tell if that changes once Dest returns from his loan spell.
