Atletico Madrid have turned down Manchester United’s initial offer for Joao Felix over a loan move this month.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Manchester United’s first approach for Joao Felix has been rejected by Atletico Madrid. The Red Devils offered £3 million as a loan fee and would cover all of his wages, should a deal be struck.
Erik ten Hag is adamant to add a forward as he is keen to have adequate protection while entering the most difficult phase of the season. Short-term loan deals have been tipped to be Manchester United’s main source as their summer outlay has limited their transfer kitty.
Felix has had a few fallouts with Diego Simeone as the Argentine manager has grown frustrated with his inability to perform on a regular basis. Simeone is open to letting the 23-year-old leave. But a deal could be complicated due to Atletico Madrid’s exorbitant demands.
The Red Devils remain the preferred option. But they have found it pretty difficult to pay a ransom loan fee to the tune of £9.5 million. Manchester United have also refused to provide any commitment to buy the player on a permanent deal after the expiry of the loan deal.
Manchester United have thus kept their options open and also have been monitoring the situation of Wout Weghorst, who is currently on loan at Besiktas from Burnley. Erik ten Hag is keen to have the Dutch striker at his disposal, as he believes the 30-year-old will bring a very different flair and desire to Old Trafford.
Felix showed his quality at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Arsenal are also contemplating tapping into the possibility of acquiring his service. The youngster’s preferred position is slightly behind the main striker. But he can also be deployed as a number nine. And he successfully auditioned playing on the flanks at the World Cup.
Atletico Madrid are pretty defiant in their stance. But they are also facing huge pressure to balance their books. So further negotiations could be possible, and Manchester United will maintain a dialogue with the club to find out whether a move is feasible or not.
