Saul Niguez is keen to push for a move away from Atletico Madrid this summer with Manchester United top of his list of preferred destinations.
The Red Devils are long-term admirers of the Spain international and the news he could be available for as ‘little’ as £40m will be music to the ears of United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Having finished a distant second to Manchester City in this season’s Premier League title race, United have pinpointed five key areas they want to strengthen as they look to bridge the gap to their city rivals, with a holding midfielder one of their top priorities.
It was recently revealed that Saul had decided to leave Atleti just days after their dramatic La Liga triumph, and the Mirror now report (via the Daily Star) that Old Trafford is his preferred destination.
Saul’s current deal supposedly contains a buyout clause of around £60m – slightly less than the £150m that was reported last summer – though given the Spaniard’s request to leave the club Atleti would be open to offers of £40m.
Atletico chief Miguel Angel Gil has already stipulated that he is open to sanctioning Saul’s move away from the club, though he added the move would need to be in the best interest of all parties involved.
“If Saul wants to leave Atletico there are no problems as long as the move is positive for all sides,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, United aren’t the only side to have been credited with an interest in Saul, with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus also keen to secure the midfielder’s services.
Other names on United’s central-midfield wish list this summer include Wolves’ Ruben Neves and West Ham’s Declan Rice, the latter of which would likely cost United around double the figure being quoted for Saul.