Aniket Rai
Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente will not come for cheap if Manchester United want a transfer
A report by Spanish outlet Marca (h/t Metro) mentions that Atletico Madrid are ‘extremely reluctant’ to sell star midfielder Marcos Llorente in the summer as transfer links to Manchester United continue.
Earlier this week, there were reports of the Red Devils making a £68.5million offer for the Spaniard. But that would not cut it if they want Llorente at Old Trafford next season.
The Spanish side want to keep hold of their star man. The 26-year-old has 9 goals and 8 assists this season, which has rocketed his side to the top of the La Liga.
Diego Simeone’s men were held to a draw at Getafe after Saul Niguez’s Atletico future was put up for question in the media. And he does not want a similar situation with Llorente to destabilise his team’s title charge.
Killing many birds with one stone
And if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants the versatile Spanish international at United, he would have to pay out the entire £103million release clause in his contract. Otherwise, the player will be at Wanda Metropolitano.
His current contract expires in the summer of 2024, which means that Atletico would not be worried about his immediate future right now. But a player of his calibre may just make the difference for United.
His versatility in midfield and the ability to play almost anywhere in midfield and attack is something very few players can offer. Moreover, he could be a great long-term successor for the ageing Nemanja Matic.
More Manchester United News:
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- Manchester United may not have the transfer budget to get across Jadon Sancho deal in the summer
- Sergio Romero could have his wife standing between him and a Manchester United exit
And with Paul Pogba’s future in doubt, signing Llorente would offer Solskjaer some peace of mind. His buyout clause may be high, but United would plug a lot of holes in their team with just one signing.
