Manchester United report: Major hurdle remains in Joao Felix pursuit

By Greg Lea
published

Manchester United and Atletico Madrid have a difference in opinion on the fee

Joao Felix
Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix celebrates a goal in the Champions League (Image credit: Getty)

Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are a far way apart in their respective valuations of Joao Felix, according to reports.

The Portugal international looks set to leave the Civitas Metropolitano in the January transfer window after a difficult period under Diego Simeone.

Atletico (opens in new tab) are open to let their club-record signing depart on loan, and United (opens in new tab), Chelsea (opens in new tab) and Arsenal (opens in new tab) are all thought to be keeping a close eye on developments in the Spanish capital.

Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag wants to bolster his squad in January (Image credit: Getty)

The Red Devils are in the market for a new attacker after Cristiano Ronaldo departed Old Trafford by mutual consent in November.

But their pursuit of Felix has hit a snag, writes Spanish publication Relevo (opens in new tab), with the two clubs unable to agree a loan fee.

United are willing to pay around £3.5m to take the former Benfica starlet on loan until the end of the 2022/23 campaign, but Atletico are demanding at least £10.6m.

With other clubs also interested in Felix, United are in danger of missing out on his signature.

But reports suggest there is little money to spend at Old Trafford this month after a summer of significant expenditure ahead of this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Manchester United against Rayo Vallecano in pre-season.

Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United by mutual consent in November (Image credit: Getty Images)

Erik ten Hag's side beat Bournemouth (opens in new tab) 3-0 on Tuesday to maintain their position in the top four of the Premier League.

United return to action on Friday night, when they host Everton (opens in new tab) in the third round of the FA Cup.

More Manchester United stories

At the other end of the pitch, United have been linked with Yann Sommer and Jack Butland as potential replacements for Martin Dubravka (opens in new tab), who has returned to parent club Newcastle.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag has made winning trophies with his 'professional New Year's resolution' for 2023 (opens in new tab); United haven't claimed any silverware since the League Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho some six years ago.

Elsewhere, new Liverpool signing Cody Gakpo has admitted that he thought he would be moving to Old Trafford back in the summer (opens in new tab).

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Greg Lea
Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).