Manchester United are keen on Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, according to reports both in the English and Spanish media.
The 24-year-old does, though, have a €150m release clause which would need to be met, and it appears the Red Devils would only consider signing him if the club decide to sell Paul Pogba.
Some fans on Twitter think Saul would be an excellent signing:
I’d be happy with this! He is an excellent CM, link him with Fernandes and that will be amazing.
— Tom Smith (@tomsmithhealth) 4 July 2019
That would be a good signing for next season. Wen pogba leaves then
— 100 (@cPu08qawHjMdL1a) 4 July 2019
I really hope this deal can happen doubt it, but Saul is a top top midfielder which will just be perfect ??, not a good pogba replacement but levels above Herrera and has that box to box feel. Love it @UnitedStandMUFC @markgoldbridge @ManUtd #mufc
— Tameez Abdool Sattar (@TameezSattar) 4 July 2019
Top class player
— علي (@one_united68) 4 July 2019
please get him
— Kashif (@kaattzy) 4 July 2019
While others believe that United are unlikely to go after the Spanish international:
Will never happen
— #GlazersOut (@HarryLUHG) 4 July 2019
Big no
— Bambang Rasengojo (@bvambangk) 4 July 2019
We don’t have 150m
— Anthony Waweru (@zakimmy) 4 July 2019
For €150m you can get Fernandes, Tielemans, Ndidi…. BUT if we sell Pogba and he’s the one coming in i’m not complaining, but it’s still a ridiculous fee
— Mathias Mo (@mathias_mo) 4 July 2019
Good player but not worth that money. Better investing in 3 other players at 50m each to strengthen squad. Go for Neves or Tiellmans.
— Mike Morris (@M1keMorris) 4 July 2019
Saul does fit the age bracket of the targets that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been eyeing this summer. His buyout fee would also not be a problem if Pogba were to be offloaded.
However, it’s debatable whether the Spaniard would be a like-for-like replacement. In his 249 appearances for Atletico, he has scored just 34 goals and provided 18 assists.
In contrast, Pogba has scored 31 in only 142 United appearances, as well as contributing 29 assists.