Manchester United competing with Barcelona to sign highly-rated defender | OneFootball

Barcelona are hoping to sign 2-3 new defenders during the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window. Joao Cancelo is closest to joining, while there are also plans for a deal to be done for Real Racing Club de Santander’s Jorge Salinas.

It has been approximately six weeks since Barcelona first registered their interest in Salinas. They tried to sign him upon claiming his release clause was €8m, although this has since increased to €16m upon Racing Club’s promotion to La Liga ticking over on the 1st of July, which is the start of the new financial year.

Despite this blow, Barcelona are still very interested in signing Salinas this summer, but for much less than the €16m that Racing Club are now asking for. This stance has given a window of opportunity to other clubs, and while Atletico Madrid are also plotting a move for the 19-year-old, both could be pipped by Manchester United.

According to El Diario Montañés (via Sport), Man United have identified Salinas as one of their backup targets in the event they fail to sign Lewis Hall from Newcastle United. The Premier League giants would have little problem paying the asking price on offer, which will make Barcelona nervous at the prospect of missing out.

Salinas only wants to join Barcelona this summer

Fortunately, the report goes on to say that Salinas does not have much interest in joining Man United this summer, as his intention is only to move to Barcelona if he ends up leaving Racing Club. The teenager has already informed his representatives that Catalonia is the only destination he wants, which is why he is willing to reject all other proposals in the hope that an agreement can be reached between the two La Liga clubs.

It will be interesting to see whether Barcelona are able to sign Salinas this summer, but what’s clear is that an effort will certainly be made.