Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images
Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images
The transfer market games are afoot as Man Utd have identified Jorge Salinas if they can’t land Lewis Hall from Newcastle.
It was only a matter of time before new left-back targets emerged, as the deal for Lewis Hall looks more difficult with each passing day.
As Bruno Guimaraes is on the verge of being sold, Hall becomes more important, and with Ineos not paying crazy prices, smarter alternatives are needed.
Enter Jorge Salinas, the Spanish left-back with a €16m release clause Man Utd are reportedly “very serious” about. Here’s all you need to know about him.
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Who is Jorge Salinas?
Jorge Salinas is a 19-year-old left-back who plays for Racing Santander and spent his last season in the Spanish second division.
Across 34 league games, he dished out seven assists to power a promotion push for the club.
Salinas is a natural left-footed left-back who likes to overlap and enjoys attacking duties, but he can also play as a ball-playing centre-back if required.
At just 19, he is far from a proven commodity, but with a release clause of just €16m, Man Utd might be thinking that this is a no-risk punt on a youngster with a high ceiling.
A wrinkle in the story is that he is represented by Gestifute, which is Jorge Mendes’ agency, and having deal with the Mateus Fernandes circus, SPORT’s report about Man Utd’s interest could simply be a smokescreen.
For whom? That brings us to the next question.
Jorge Salinas Man Utd transfer story – breaking it down
Salinas looks like an exciting player, but it’s a weird story, because it’s not even certain that he’s better than Harry Amass right now.
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He played in the Spanish second division, and the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have been credited with an interest in him.
Moreover, the report states that he fancies a move to Barcelona, so that immediately fails him on the Ineos test of Man Utd loyalty.
If United are to buy a left-back, he needs to be someone who eventually dislodges Luke Shaw, not a 19-year-old with one good season in a league weaker than the Championship in England.
This story screams Jorge Mendes shenanigans to bring Barcelona and Atletico to the table, since the release clause means Salinas can demand a higher wage, and in turn, a higher commission for Mendes.
It would be extremely surprising if these reports about Salinas make their way reliably to England, having originated in Spain.
United aren’t in a position to be taking long-term bets on the left-back position.