Atletico set to land Man Utd, City target in £113m deal

Joe Williams
Joao Felix Benfica

Benfica have received a huge offer from Atletico Madrid for their young forward Joao Felix, the club have announced in a statement.

Manchester United and Manchester City have been tracking the highly-rated 19-year-old, who looks set to move on this summer, while Liverpool have also been credited with interest.

In fact, recent reports have suggested that Premier League champions City are ready to pay the release clause in order to beat their rivals to the playmaker.

However, Marca claimed ten days ago that Atletico Madrid had entered the race for Felix and the Spanish side were prepared to break their transfer record – which currently stands at the €72m which they paid to sign 70 percent of the rights of Thomas Lemar from Monaco last summer – to sign the Portugal international.

And now Benfica confirmed in a statement on Wednesday evening (via Goal) that a bid of €126 million (£113m) had been lodged for Felix and that they are considering the offer from Atletico.

The bid is more than Felix’s €120m release clause with Atletico doing that in the hope that they can pay the fee in installments.

Atletico are set to reinvest the £106m that they are set to pocket from Antoine Griezmann’s departure if Benfica accept their proposal.