Manchester United could save £46 million by opting for Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas instead of Newcastle's Lewis Hall. The club are weighing up a move for the 19-year-old, who would cost considerably less than the £60m-plus fee Newcastle would demand for Hall.
United's left-back search
With the transfer window closing in weeks, Hall remains high on United's wishlist, but uncertainty at Newcastle could open the door. Eddie Howe has left, and players like Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have departed. Arsenal's pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes may lead to another exit, but Newcastle are not planning to sell Hall and would expect at least £60m.
Instead, United may target Salinas, who has a £13.7m (€16m) release clause. Spanish publication SPORT reports that Michael Carrick's side hold genuine interest in the left-back, who helped Santander secure promotion to La Liga last season.
Barcelona competition
Salinas is open to a move to Barcelona, who see him as a replacement for Joao Cancelo, set to join Al-Hilal. United have monitored Salinas closely and were impressed by his displays at the European Under-19 Championship, where Spain won the title.
United's preferred left-back remains Luke Shaw, but injuries have plagued the 31-year-old. The club have already signed Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos this summer, with midfield strengthening a priority, but the left-back position is also seen as an area for improvement.
