According to a report in ABC, Premier League side Manchester United have made contact with Atletico Madrid for the signing of Joao Felix.
Currently, Felix’s future is in limbo because Chelsea have sent him back after last season’s loan spell and even Atletico do not wish to hold onto him. The 23-year-old still has four more years left on his current contract which is why the Spanish side are looking to get him off their wage bills before the next season begins.
Paris Saint-Germain’s new boss Luis Enrique is reportedly keen to bring Joao Felix on board but now things are about to get interesting with Man United joining the race.
The forward is currently valued at €50 million but there are rumours that Atletico Madrid feel this valuation is very low for a player of Felix’s stature which is why they are open to sending him out on loan for one more season.
Manchester United will be more than happy to bring him on a loan deal because that would help Ten Hag use his summer transfer budget elsewhere but is Joao Felix really worth a transfer fight, that too with PSG?
How can Joao Felix help Man United get better next season?
It’s no secret that Manchester United are out in the market for a number nine and so far, they have been linked with a series of forward. Harry Kane, Randal Kolo Muani, Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojlund are all on the club’s radar but none of these talks have gone past the initial stages yet.
Ten Hag is thought to want Kane as his main striker but Daniel Levy has no intention of letting the England international leave this summer.
However, a loan deal for Joao Felix could be the ideal solution to the number nine issue because the 23-year-old can play all across the front line but his main position is the striker and the second striker roles.
He’s played 119 games in his professional career as the link between midfield and the striker and playing as the second striker, Felix has scored 35 and assisted 20 goals. Last season, he played 16 Premier League games for Chelsea and in a Blues team which struggled to build up attacks, Joao Felix was one of the rare bright sparks.
Anthony Martial does not have a future at Old Trafford and any day, the Atletico Madrid man will be an upgrade to the Frenchman.
Many would argue that he is not a proper number nine but surely Erik ten Hag can put his faith in someone who has scored and assisted more than 100 goals in 238 appearances. He is just 23 years old which means Ten Hag will have enough time to reshape him as a proper centre-forward and if he arrives on loan then Man United won’t be at risk of signing a big-money flop either.
Some experts are claiming that ETH is going to use Marcus Rashford as a number nine next season and the England international along with Joao Felix will be a top combination. However, if they are serious about signing the Portuguese international then they will have to fight it out with PSG and this won’t be an easy battle.
