Racing Santander Demand £13.7m for Jorge Salinas
Racing Santander have drawn the line in thick ink: if anyone wants Jorge Salinas, they pay the full price.
Manchester United’s latest defensive target will only leave if his £13.7million release clause is triggered, with the Spanish club batting away early interest from Barcelona and preparing for more calls before the window shuts.
Santander slam the door on cut-price bids
Salinas, just 19, has moved quickly from promising academy talent to one of the most talked-about young defenders in Europe. That rise has brought the usual crowd to the door. Barcelona tested Santander’s resolve with an offer a little over £5m. It barely made it past the front desk.
The bid was rejected out of hand, and Barca were promptly reminded of the clause in his contract. Any club, whether it is Barcelona or United, will receive the same answer: £13.7m or nothing.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo report that sporting director Chema Aragon has been unequivocal. Santander will not negotiate down, will not entertain instalment games, and will not haggle over structure. Pay the clause, or move on. He did concede one reality of the market – “There is nothing we can do if a big star appears” – but the stance is firm: the release clause is the only route out.
A defender built for modern demands
The reason for the scramble is clear. Salinas has impressed not just with his composure, but with the sort of versatility that top clubs now demand from defenders.
He can operate as a central defender or step out to left-back without breaking stride, a profile that instantly appeals to United. At Old Trafford, Luke Shaw remains the only natural left-back. He started every Premier League match last season, but his history of injuries still hangs over any long-term planning.
Salinas would ease that burden. He could spell Shaw at left-back, but also cover Lisandro Martinez, who has fought his own fitness problems over the last two campaigns. One signing, two positions strengthened. That is exactly the kind of efficiency United’s recruitment team has been trying to find.
Alternatives on a difficult market
United’s scouting department is not short of names, but prising them loose is another matter.
Lewis Hall at Newcastle United has also been monitored, yet any move there looks even more complicated. Newcastle have made it clear he is “untouchable” this season, shutting down any serious hope of a deal before it even begins.
Giorgio Scalvini of Atalanta offers a similar package to Salinas, with the added twist that he can also step into central midfield. That blend of height, timing and comfort on the ball has already drawn Chelsea’s attention, and United scouts were in the stands for Atalanta’s most recent pre-season outing to run the rule over him again.
The pattern is obvious. United want defenders who can slide between roles, adjust to different systems and still keep the ball moving. Salinas fits that blueprint. So does Scalvini. Neither will come cheap.
United’s rebuild tilts towards balance
So far, the bulk of United’s work has been in midfield. Youri Tielemans has arrived from Aston Villa, bringing Premier League experience and a passing range to speed up transitions. Andrey Santos has come in from Chelsea, a younger option with room to grow and energy to burn.
Aurelien Tchouameni continues to be linked, as does Manu Kone of Roma, underlining how determined United are to reshape the core of their side. But a rebuilt midfield without a secure, flexible back line only solves half the problem.
That is where the chase for Salinas lands. For United, £13.7m for a 19-year-old who can cover two positions and grow into a long-term starter is not an outlandish fee. For Racing Santander, it is a non-negotiable safety net around one of their prized assets.
The question now is simple: does anyone believe in Jorge Salinas enough to break the glass and pay the clause, or will Europe’s heavyweights look back in a few years and wonder how they let him stay put for so long?
