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Atletico Madrid insist Man Utd target Saul Niguez will not be sold for less than £130m release clause


Saul Niguez is unlikely to be leaving Atletico Madrid this summer (Picture: Getty Images)

Atletico Madrid have no intention of letting Saul Niguez leave the club this summer for less than his release clause of €150m (£130m), amid interest from Manchester United.

The 25-year-old has become a target for the Red Devils, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reportedly seeing him as the ideal partner for Bruno Fernandes in the middle of midfield.

If Paul Pogba is to leave Old Trafford this summer then Saul would be Solskjaer’s primary target to replace the Frenchman, but he will not come cheaply.

Spanish publication Marca report that the €150m release clause is the asking price and they will not be budged with Saul such a key component of Diego Simeone’s side.

This price tag effectively rules out a move for the Spain international, with no club likely to spend that kind of money on him during the economic uncertainty of the coronavirus crisis. Especially as he was available for around half that cost last year and no club made a concrete offer for him.

Contrasting reports from Spain last week suggested Saul could be available for around £70m if Atletico fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Simeone’s men have been mainstays of Europe’s top competition for years, but they are currently outside of La Liga’s top four and there is the possibility that the season could end early and the current top four qualify for next season’s Champions League.

AS report that this would hit Atletico’s finances hard and they could be forced to cash in on one of their star players, which would make Saul available.

However, it now appears that they value him too highly and would insist on the huge £130m price tag for his services, with or without Champions League football.

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