£113m LaLiga star holds urgent agent talks amid genuine Man Utd interest

A top LaLiga forward has held talks with his agent amid talk of a potential switch to Manchester United, while Saturday’s Transfer Gossip claims Arsenal could be forced to fork out nearly £40million for a winger.

ATLETICO STAR ON THE BRINK OF EXIT

Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix has reportedly held talks with agents amidst interest from Manchester United.

The Red Devils are keeping tabs on the situation of Felix in Spain, with the 22-year-old currently unhappy with Los Rojiblancos.

Marca claims Felix has lost faith in Atletico coach Diego Simeone after he was left on the bench against Club Brugge.

The Champions League clash was a crunch game for Atletico, who ended up drawing. However, they are now on the brink of failing to qualify for the knockout stage.

The report adds that the Portugal international, who cost Atletico £113million in 2019, has met with agent Jorge Mendes to discuss his future.

The 22-year-old now wants to leave the Madrid-based club. However, he is tied down with Los Colchoneros until 2026.

Big hitters all looking to fix Felix deal

United, Liverpool and Manchester City are all said to be monitoring the player’s situation, along with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Felix enjoyed a good start to the current campaign but has slowly fallen down the pecking order.

Indeed, Simeone has preferred Antoine Griezmann over the Portuguese in recent weeks, especially after Griezmann’s future in Madrid was finally resolved.

Felix has scored 30 goals in 121 games for Atletico in what has been a stop-start spell in Madrid.

ARSENAL FACING MUDRYK PRICE HIKE

Arsenal transfer chief Edu could be forced into paying more Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk if Shakhtar Donetsk progress in the Champions League.

The Gunners appear to be targeting the wide attacking areas to improve Mikel Arteta’s squad despite the outstanding form of both Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka so far this season.

Mudryk has emerged as a major target for the north London side, but he will not come cheap.

The 21-year-old’s form in Europe means Arsenal may not be able to sign him in January. Indeed, they have to wait until next summer instead.

According to Ukrainian news outlet football24tv, the Gunners held talks with Mudryk’s agents last summer. The report went on to say that Shakhtar Donetsk were asking for €35million (£30million) at the time.

However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano now claims that Shakhtar are due to hold out for at least £39.6m. They could even boost that figure until £44m, depending on how the player performs for the rest of the season.

The player himself has admitted, however, that he is very open to a move to Arsenal.

He previously told CBS Sports, he said: “I think every guy dreams about the Premier League. It’s hard to say [who his preferred move is] but Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach, I like the way they play.”

MAN CITY IN RACE TO SIGN IRISH STARLET

Man City are reportedly racing to get a deal done for Irish teenage sensation Sam Curtis, sources have told Football Insider.

The 16-year-old defender is already an established first-teamer at League of Ireland side St Patrick’s Athletic. And he has been earning rave reviews this term.

City scouts have been making regular checks on Curtis, who can play at centre-back or right-back.

Football Insider claims Pep Guardiola’s men are in a hurry to strike a deal due to interest from Roma, Bayer Leverkusen and Feyenoord have – who have all previously had the youngster on trial.

However, City would not be able to formally sign Curtis until he turns 18 in December 2023.

This is due to Brexit rules prohibiting English clubs from signing underage Irish players until they turn that age.

Curtis has made 17 senior appearances for St Patrick’s Athletic after joining from Shamrock Rovers in the summer of 2021.