Manchester United transfer news: Bayern Munich set to win race for Saul Niguez
The Red Devils had been linked with the Atletico Madrid midfielder
![Saul Niguez](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UdXjedi5ysrVFmaeMGSFmf-810-80.jpg)
Reports in Spain claim that Manchester United are set to miss out on Saul Niguez, who will join Bayern Munich from Atletico Madrid.
Stories earlier this week suggested that Saul, who is expected to seek pastures new this summer, was keen to move to Old Trafford.
The midfielder had also been linked with PSG and Juventus, but was said to be more open to United’s reported interest.
But Radio Marca states that Saul is actually on his way to the Allianz Arena, with former Liverpool target Rodrigo De Paul lined up as his replacement at Atletico.
The 26-year-old helped Diego Simeone’s side win the La Liga title last term, but he was not always a regular starter.
Indeed, the Spaniard was left out of the starting XI on 16 occasions and failed to earn a spot in Luis Enrique’s squad for Euro 2020.
Saul is under contract at the Wanda Metropolitano until 2026 and has a buy-out clause - as is mandatory in Spanish football - of £60m.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Bayern now look set to win the race for his signature, although it is unclear whether or not United were genuinely interested.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been handed a £150m transfer budget for the summer, and the acquisition of Saul would have accounted for a large chunk of that.
United are in the market for a new striker, with Harry Kane thought to be their leading target, while Jadon Sancho remains on Solskjaer’s wish list.
The Red Devils are also looking for another central defender, with Pau Torres, Raphael Varane and Jules Kounde all being tracked.
Meanwhile, De Paul’s mooted move to Madrid will end Leeds’ interest in the Argentina international, who was also linked with Liverpool last summer.
Marcelo Bielsa is an admirer of the midfielder but will now have to look elsewhere.
Subscribe to FourFourTwo today and get a FREE England Euro 96 shirt!
NOW READ
EURO 2020 Every squad, final and provisional
FEATURE Wales at Euro 2020: How do they follow their sensational showing of Euro 2016?
QUIZ! Can you give 50 correct answers in The Big Champions League Quiz?
FourFourTwo was launched in 1994 on the back of a World Cup that England hadn’t even qualified for. It was an act of madness… but it somehow worked out. Our mission is to offer our intelligent, international audience access to the game’s biggest names, insightful analysis... and a bit of a giggle. We unashamedly love this game and we hope that our coverage reflects that.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on October 20, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y6uSyarD69cTjYZM7M4Z33-840-80.jpg)
‘We thought we’d signed him, but Chelsea blew us away. I think they signed him so we couldn’t have him, as much as because they really wanted him’: Liverpool actually failed to sign Mohamed Salah in 2014, three years before finally getting the Egyptian
![Mikel Arteta is aiming for success at the Emirates](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vAEUKNdjqDKcE4VuASxGV-840-80.jpg)
Arsenal pushing for 'delusional' transfer, following Kai Havertz blow: report