The English giants can snatch a transfer right under the noses of Hansi Flick’s team – and are willing to trigger the buyout clause immediately.
Jorge Salinas, the 19-year-old left-back from Racing Santander, is once again at the centre of the transfer market. Manchester United have now thrown themselves into the bidding war together with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid – and are willing to pay the full buyout clause of 16 million euros. A sum Barcelona is trying to negotiate down through talks with Racing.
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The Spanish U19 international, who this week was back in training with Racing after a holiday, remains a top priority for several European clubs looking to strengthen their left-back position. The interest from Manchester United is now changing the picture – where Barcelona and Atlético Madrid were previously the hottest on the thread.
Salinas increasingly important for United
Manchester United have identified Jorge Salinas as the alternative to Lewis Hall at Newcastle. When Newcastle refused to negotiate for Hall, United accelerated their pursuit of the Spanish full-back – who they followed closely during the U19 European Championship this summer.
According to English media, manager Michael Carrick has already approved the signing if the Hall transfer does not go ahead. United are also open to triggering the full €16 million clause – an amount they consider reasonable to strengthen a position where Luke Shaw is constantly struggling with injuries.
Barcelona still in the fight – but with a lower bid
Barcelona have not given up on the pursuit of Salinas, despite putting a lot of effort into strengthening their attack. Deco still believes that the left-back needs competition, and the club is negotiating to find a solution that lowers the price.
Barça’s proposal is for around €8 million – divided into fixed sums and variables – in addition to the possibility of including a player on loan to facilitate the deal with Racing. It is this price gap that explains why the Catalans have not closed the deal yet.
The player’s preference can play an important role. Several sources report that Jorge Salinas prioritizes Barcelona – but that does not exempt the clubs from agreeing among themselves.
Atlético Madrid is watching behind the scenes
Atlético Madrid are still in the race for the Cantabrian. The club’s sports management initiated talks with Racing several weeks ago, and are following the situation closely – they see Salinas as a future option on the left flank.
While Salinas is already training in Racing after the U19 European Championship gold with Spain, the next step depends on the club negotiations. Manchester United have the financial weight to pay the entire clause, Barcelona are trying to get a cheaper deal, and Atlético Madrid are ready to strike if something changes. The bidding war is wide open.
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