Man Utd prepare cheeky loan offer for Joao Felix

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 5 Jan 2023 11:48 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United are ready to submit a €4 million offer to sign Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on a six-month loan deal until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Felix, 23, has been heavily linked with a departure from Atleti this month, with boss Diego Simeone now reportedly frustrated by the transfer saga surrounding his player.

Following their Champions League group stage exit, it was reported that Atletico needed to offload several stars in order to balance the books. Matheus Cunha's departure to Wolves is a start, but Felix could still leave the club.

READ: Why Roberto Firmino's future matters to Man Utd's January transfer window

The likelihood of that happening is increased by Atleti's reported interest in Liverpool's Roberto Firmino, whose contract at Anfield expires this summer.

According to Revelo, Man Utd are willing to pay Felix's full wages for the duration of the loan deal, but the offer will not include an option to buy permanently in the summer transfer window.

It's believed that Felix wants to leave Atleti, and Man Utd are currently the frontrunners in the race to sign him.

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However, Atletico have indicated that they want a loan fee of €13m for Felix, far more than the offer Man Utd are currently preparing.

Premier League table-toppers Arenal have also registered an interest in the Portugal international, but Mikel Arteta's side are currently pursuing a deal for Shakhtar Donestk forward Mykhailo Mudryk, which could complicate things. Chelsea are another team in the running for Felix, but like Arsenal they are also in the hunt for Mudryk, leaving Man Utd as the favourites to land the Benfica academy graduate.

Why do Man Utd want Felix?

The 23-year-old has struggled for fitness, game-time, and form since making a €127m move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid back in 2019. Simeone has often favoured other options through the middle, with Felix unable to get a regular string of starts throughout his time at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Despite that, he's shown his outstanding talent in bursts during his time in Spain, and needs the platform to feature regularly under a more attacking manager to thrive.

Furthermore, Cristiano Ronaldo's departure has left Man Utd at least one body light in attacking areas, especially given Jadon Sancho is on an individual training programme away from the club and Cody Gakpo, their number one transfer target, has joined Liverpool.