Diego Simeone has reportedly given the green light for Atletico Madrid to sign Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas ahead of Barcelona and Manchester United this summer.
Salinas enjoyed an outstanding season in the Spanish Segunda Division last term, helping his boyhood team Racing secure La Liga football again for the first time since 2012. But Salinas' performances have not gone unnoticed and elite clubs from across Europe have been forming a queue for the 19-year-old left-back, with speculation mounting that he could soon be on the move.
Manchester United's interest
United have reportedly placed Salinas on their shortlist of potential solutions as they scour the market for a quality left-back to provide competition and support for Luke Shaw. The Red Devils are understood to be 'very serious' about Salinas after being forced to divert their attentions away from primary left-back target Lewis Hall, who Newcastle have made clear is not for sale.
Spanish champions Barcelona have also been circling for the youngster after Joao Cancelo returned to Al-Hilal following an impressive six-month loan spell at the Camp Nou.
Atletico emerge as front-runners
However, according to Catalan publication El Nacional, Atletico Madrid have emerged as the serious force in this summer's hotly contested transfer race for Salinas. It's claimed Atleti are 'aiming to become Salinas' most likely destination' as the club search for a long-term replacement for Matteo Ruggeri, who is rumoured to be on the cusp of a £17million switch to Aston Villa.
The report states that Simeone has 'given the move the go-ahead' and believes the teenager 'fits what he needs' at the Metropolitano Stadium – a full-back with 'energy, defensive aggression and an ability to join the attack'. Atleti are in a position to be able to provide Salinas with assurances over regular first-team minutes this coming season and are said to be actively making moves to 'prevent other clubs from entering the operation with force'.
Salinas is available for just a fee of just €16m (£13.7m) due to a release clause in his contract at Racing.
Racing's stance
At the weekend, Racing manager Jose Alberto brushed off the incessant speculation surrounding the future of Salinas and Gustavo Puerta, insisting both players remained committed to his project. 'Their professionalism doesn't surprise me,' Alberto told reporters following Racing's pre-season clash with Alaves. 'What surprises me is that people are constantly talking about the departure of two of our players [Salinas and Gustavo Puerta], when they have contracts and are our players.'
Alberto underlined the duo's 'importance' to Racing and claimed neither player had ambitions to leave with the new season fast coming into view on the horizon. 'They're very important to us. I don't want them to leave. And they show every day that they don't either,' he added. 'But we know how this world works and there are release clauses. If a team comes along and pays the clause, they cease to be our players.'
Though 'bothered' by the incessant rumours, Alberto stressed that both Salinas and Puerta remained Racing players as long as they were contracted to the club. 'Until that happens, it really bothers me that these things are being discussed,' he continued. 'They're Racing players, and as they've shown, they want to be here.'
Earlier in the week, Racing sporting director Chema Aragon was a little less convincing when asked how confident he was about Salinas staying put. 'There's little you can do if a giant appears,' Aragan conceded. 'We value the assets we have, we consider them important. For the club, at this time, there is no other option than to try to strengthen the team and not weaken it by losing stars. The reality is that the club that wants him has to come along with an offer.'
Aragon continued: 'Hopefully he stays. It would be our dream. We're going to try everything we can to make it happen, just like we did in the winter with Gustavo Puerta. But it's also true that if significant offers come in, it will be more complicated.'
United have been keeping close tabs on Salinas for some time and were especially enamoured by his displays at this summer's European Under-19 Championship, where Spain emerged triumphant. Salinas' current contract with Racing runs through to June 2029.
