Manchester United Target Jorge Salinas for Left-Back Position
Manchester United are weighing up a summer move for Racing Santander left-back Jorge Salinas as Michael Carrick pushes to fix a problem position before the window closes.
United’s need is clear. Luke Shaw is heading into the final year of his contract, Patrick Dorgu has been pushed higher up the pitch, and both Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui are naturally right-backs being asked to plug gaps on the opposite flank. Behind them, highly rated academy talent Harry Amass is still waiting for his first taste of top-flight football.
Newcastle’s Lewis Hall had emerged as the preferred option, ticking the boxes of Premier League experience and long-term potential. That pursuit has stalled. Major departures at St James’ Park – including Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali – have complicated Newcastle’s own planning and left a Hall deal increasingly unlikely with less than two weeks remaining in the window.
So United are turning their gaze to Spain.
United circle as Atletico stall
Jorge Salinas, just 19, played a key role in Racing Santander’s promotion to La Liga last season. Operating from left-back, he delivered seven assists in 34 appearances across all competitions and quickly drew attention from some of Europe’s heavyweight clubs.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have both been linked, and Atletico even tested Santander’s resolve. According to reports in Spain, the Madrid club saw a £12m offer rejected, with Santander pointing firmly to the defender’s £14m (€16m) release clause.
Infobae report that Atletico’s struggle to close a deal has opened the door for United. While Atletico were initially expected to press ahead for the Spain U19 international, their hesitation has allowed Carrick’s side to move into the conversation and potentially apply pressure at a crucial moment in the market.
Atletico are said to have set themselves a deadline this weekend to make decisive progress. If they fail, the message is that they will walk away – effectively clearing a path for United to make their move.
Release clause holds the key
Santander, for their part, are trying to keep control of the situation. Salinas is under contract until 2029, and the club have reportedly put a new deal on the table. The player, though, is understood to be keeping his options open as the window ticks towards its conclusion.
Sporting director Chema Aragon has grown weary of the daily speculation but did little to hide the reality of the situation when speaking to SportWitness.
“You’re all going on about this every day. First, it’s about the release clause; then, it’s about one club or another,” he said. “Thankfully, the kid is focused. If someone comes along, brings the €16m, and the boy likes the team, he’ll leave.”
That is the line in the sand. Any club willing to trigger the clause and convince Salinas of their project will get their man.
For United, it presents a straightforward equation in a window that has become increasingly complicated: pay the money, beat Atletico to the punch, and hand Carrick the specialist left-back his squad so clearly lacks – or risk going into the season still searching for answers on that side of the pitch.
