Chelsea enter into race with Manchester United to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez
Chelsea have set sight on Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez ahead of the summer transfer window according to reports.
The Spaniard has consistently been linked with a move to Manchester United but no deal has been announced from both ends. That is due to multiple reasons and the key one is Atletico Madrid unwillingness to let their midfielder leave previous seasons.
While all those seasons Niguez was hugely Diego Simeone’s undroppable, the 26-year was a slightly fallen-out-of-favour candidate in the just ended Laliga season.
Saul made only 22 Laliga starts when Atletico Madrid lifted to ultimate for a second time in a decade. Having a limited start means Saul’s future doesn’t look bright at Wanda Metropolitano.
According to a report in the Sun, Atletico Madrid are ready sell Saul Niguez amid building a new midfield to defend their Laliga title next season and win their first ever Champions League.
While this would be a good news for United that Atletico have finally decided to cash in on Saul, the Premier League side would be worried about their fate in the talked transfer as Premier League rivals burst into the scene to open a fresh battle for the Spaniard’s signature.
Chelsea are reportedly monitoring Saul’s situation at Atletico Madrid in attempt to beat Manchester United to the player’s signature. Paris Saint-Germain are also scouting the midfielder while Bayern Munich are interested in signing Saul this summer as claimed by the English publication.
Chelsea have not made no contacts but are very hopeful of securing a deal for the 26-year old. The Laliga champions could be forced by the coronavirus pandemic to sell under cut price claimed by Marca and other sources.
Saul’s buy-out hit £128million after signing a 9-year contract extension in 2017. There appears no reduction has taken course on this amount as the midfielder still have five years left on his current contract.
It’s revealed that this huge clause is one of the why Manchester United have failed to bring the versatile man to Old Trafford for seasons now.
With Atletico Madrid now willing to sell in the pandemic era, activating Saul’s buy-out clause doesn’t seems the ideal way of completing a transfer for the Spanish International.
Meaning, Atletico would be forced to tell their asking price and that will be below the buy-out clause of £128million revealed by Journalist Matteo Moretto and Marca.
The Journalist’s report via the Sun even claimed that Atletico Madrid could quote Chelsea around £40million in exchange for Saul’s signature. The Champions League winners are understood to generate fund from selling Tiémoué Bakayoko to seal move for Saul Niguez.
Despite Chelsea latest interest, Saul in believed to have eyes on moving to Manchester United claimed in the Sun. However, Chelsea’s Champions League glory could change the player’s mind towards Stamford Bridge.
