Arjun Menon
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Manchester United are prepared to pay Jorge Salinas’ release clause this summer, with a medical reportedly already booked as the club moves to reinforce the left side of its defence. The 19-year-old Racing Santander full back has attracted interest from multiple clubs, and United face a race against time to secure his signature before Atletico Madrid enters the picture.
United are exploring alternatives to Newcastle star Lewis Hall at left back, and Salinas has emerged as a primary target. Barcelona had previously attempted to sign the Spaniard but refused to meet his release clause, leaving the door open for the Red Devils to step in.
Racing sporting director Chema Aragon drew a clear line in the sand earlier this week.
“A club has offered €14m for Jorge Salinas, and Racing have rejected it. His release clause is €16 million, and the club will not budge from that figure.”
Salinas broke into Racing’s first team in 2024 after progressing through the club’s youth system. Last season he registered seven assists across 34 appearances as the club secured promotion back to La Liga.
Atletico’s interest could intensify imminently. Matteo Ruggeri is set to complete a medical with Aston Villa after the Premier League club agreed a deal worth €25m (£21.35m) plus €1.5m (£1.28m) in add-ons. The Italian only joined Atletico last summer for €17m (£14.52m) plus up to €3m (£2.56m) in bonuses. His departure frees both funds and a squad place, giving Atletico a clear route to move for Salinas.
At United, Michael Carrick currently has Luke Shaw as his only recognised option on the left side of defence. Patrick Dorgu is deployed further forward, while youngster Harry Amass is expected to leave the club.
Racing manager Jose Alberto has made his position on Salinas clear, insisting the player wants to stay.
“Their professionalism doesn’t surprise me. What surprises me is that people are constantly talking about the departure of two of our players [Salinas and Puerta], when they have contracts and are our players.”
“They’re very important to us. I don’t want them to leave. And they show every day that they don’t either. But we know how this world works and there are release clauses. If a team comes along and pays the clause, they cease to be our players.”
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Aragon echoed that pragmatic acceptance while making clear the club’s preference.
“There’s little you can do if a giant appears. We value the assets we have, we consider them important. For the club, at this time, there is no other option than to try to strengthen the team and not weaken it by losing stars. The reality is that the club that wants him has to come along with an offer. Hopefully he stays. It would be our dream. We’re going to try everything we can to make it happen, just like we did in the winter with Gustavo Puerta. But it’s also true that if significant offers come in, it will be more complicated.”
With a medical reportedly scheduled and the release clause set at €16m (£13.66m), United’s total outlay including add-ons could reach £22.5m. The pace of developments means Carrick’s squad could look significantly different at left back before the window closes. Follow TipsGG for the latest updates as this transfer situation develops.