Racing Santander Firm on Jorge Salinas Release Clause
Racing Santander have drawn a hard line in the sand over Jorge Salinas – and Manchester United know exactly where it is.
The Spanish club have told all suitors that the 19-year-old defender will only leave if his £13.7million release clause is paid in full. No instalments. No clever add-ons. No negotiation.
Barcelona have already tested that stance and been sent away. The Catalan club reportedly put just over £5m on the table, a bid that Santander dismissed almost out of hand before pointing them straight back to the figure written into Salinas’ contract.
That response will be the same for United or anyone else. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, sporting director Chema Aragon has been unequivocal: pay the clause or miss out. He did concede one thing – “There is nothing we can do if a big star appears” – a nod to the financial reality that if a giant comes calling with the full amount, Santander simply have to step aside.
They are banking on it. Salinas has emerged as one of the more intriguing young defenders in Europe, his reputation growing on the back of his versatility and composure across the back line. He can operate as a central defender or slot in at left-back, a profile that instantly catches the eye of recruitment teams at the top level.
United's Defensive Concerns
For United, that flexibility hits a nerve in an area of quiet concern. Luke Shaw remains the club’s only specialist left-back. He managed to feature in every Premier League match last season, but his injury record still lingers in the background as a warning sign. Behind him, the depth chart thins out quickly.
Salinas would offer something more than just emergency cover. He could step into Shaw’s role on the flank or provide competition and rotation at centre-back, where Lisandro Martinez has endured his own battles with fitness across the past two campaigns. One signing, two positions strengthened – that is the attraction.
Other Options
United’s recruitment team are not short of names on their defensive shortlist. Lewis Hall of Newcastle United is admired, but any move there looks like a non-starter for now. Newcastle have made it clear he is “untouchable” this season and have no intention of cashing in.
Another option under consideration is Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini. Like Salinas, the Italian can operate at centre-back and left-back, but he also offers the added dimension of being able to step into central midfield. That blend of height, technique and tactical intelligence has already drawn interest from Chelsea, while United scouts watched him closely during Atalanta’s most recent pre-season outing.
Market Dynamics
All this comes against the backdrop of a window in which United have largely prioritised the centre of the pitch. Youri Tielemans has arrived from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea to bolster the midfield options. Aurelien Tchouameni remains on the radar, as does Roma’s Manu Kone, with the club clearly intent on reshaping the core of Erik ten Hag’s side.
Yet the market rarely allows a top club to focus on just one area for long. As the numbers on Salinas’ release clause are passed around Europe’s recruitment meetings, the question becomes simple: who is willing to pay the full £13.7m to secure a defender who can solve two problems at once?
