Manchester United are reluctant to pay more than £70m to sign midfielder Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid during the summer transfer window, a report from AS claims.
Niguez recently emerged as a transfer target for the Red Devils and it had been indicated that the club could trigger his £135m buy-out clause, suppose Paul Pogba heads through the exit door.
However, according to AS, United are unlikely to meet the staggering release clause in the Spaniard’s contract as it is ‘disproportionate’ and they have set a maximum spending amount of £70m for the midfielder.
Atletico were unwilling to sell Antoine Griezmann last summer until his buy-out clause was met by Barcelona and they could maintain the same stance on Niguez, should United make an approach.
Still, there is the possibility that United could prise him away for a reduced fee, considering the complicated ownership structure in the contract of the Spain international.
Quality Football, a third-party ownership firm led by super-agent Jorge Mendes and former Chelsea chief Peter Kenyon, own 40 percent share of the midfielder’s rights and they could have a say on the negotiations.
As per FourFourTwo, the duo will be informed of a formal bid for the Spaniard and Atletico are liable to pay 40 percent of that figure to buy them out, suppose they are interested in the transfer while the player isn’t.
In such a case, United’s negotiators could put the added pressure on the La Liga side to sell or else Diego Simeone’s side may be compelled to pay the third-party from their own transfer kitty.
Niguez would prove a quality purchase for United as he can slot into different midfield positions. He is strong with his tackling and ability to win aerial duels from the centre of the park.
At 25, the Spaniard is pretty much in the prime of his playing career and Sport claims that United have the opinion that the midfielder would fit perfectly into English football.
