Manchester United report: Red Devils dealt blow as key target prefers PSG

Joao Felix
Joao Felix could leave Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window (Image credit: Getty)

Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, according to reports.

The Portugal international could be on the move in January after Atletico's chief executive admitted that the club are willing to listen to offers for a player who cost them £113m in 2019.

"He is the biggest investment the club has ever made and I think he is at the highest level in the world in terms of talent," Miguel Angel Gil told TVE.

"But for reasons that are not worth going into now - the relationship with the coach, the number of minutes he is playing, his motivation - the reasonable thing is that if there is an offer that is good for the player and the club, that we at least analyse it. I would love him to continue, but that is not the player's idea."

Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo by mutual consent last month, United have been on the lookout for a new attacker.

But according to transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio, the former Benfica man would prefer a move to PSG

Felix, who is valued at £43.6m by Transfermarkt, wants to play Champions League football.

Neither Manchester United nor Arsenal is able to offer him that immediately, although the Gunners look set to qualify for next season's edition of the competition.

United will resume their season with an EFL Cup clash with Burnley on Wednesday.

More Manchester United stories

Cody Gakpo, who impressed for the Netherlands at the World Cup, has opened the door on a move to Old Trafford amid reports that he is set to leave PSV in the January window.

United reportedly have "no chance" of signing Jude Bellingham, who has been linked with several major European clubs.

And the Red Devils have been told how much they will have to pay to sign Goncalo Ramos next month.

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).