Man Utd owners the Glazers may be about to make the ultimate signing for Erik ten Hag

Manchester United are reportedly considering launching a huge bid for Joao Felix when the transfer window reopens in January. The Portugal international is unhappy at Atletico Madrid, believing he’s being stifled by Diego Simeone over in Spain. And, if the Glazers sanction a January deal, then the 23-year-old is likely to become the club’s most-expensive signing of all time…

Manchester United have, in the past, underwhelmed with their transfer activity.

But the Glazers knew a rebuild was required back in the summer and consequently backed Ten Hag with transfer deals for the likes of Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka.

United believe they need a new striker now, however, with Anthony Martial constantly hampered by injuries and Cristiano Ronaldo blowing hot and cold.

And Cadena Ser have claimed the Red Devils are monitoring Felix, having failed to sign him back in the summer.

It’s stated that, when the transfer window was open, United failed with a massive £105 million bid for the Portugal international.

But with Atletico turning that offer down, and the Red Devils still refusing to give up, then it seems like an even bigger offer could be about to be tabled.

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Should that happen, then there’s a genuine possibility of Felix becoming the most-expensive signing in the club’s entire history.

United broke the bank when it came to landing Paul Pogba in 2016, paying a world-record fee of £89m in order to bring the France international back to Old Trafford.

Antony is next on their list of costly recruits, setting the Red Devils back an eyewatering £86m back in the summer.

Harry Maguire wasn’t cheap either, with the England international moving from Leicester for a huge £85m in 2019.

And Romelu Lukaku and Jadon Sancho have also gone for big sums in the past, costing £75m and £73m respectively.

However, while United have spent big on those five players in the past, they’ve not always got bang for their buck.

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Pogba blew hot and cold for six years before finally leaving for Juventus back in the summer, where he’s since been prevented from playing due to injury.

Antony has made an encouraging start but Maguire’s time could soon be up, amid suggestions United are looking to jettison him at the end of the season.

Sancho is down in the dumps at the moment with Alejandro Garnacho now firmly above him in Ten Hag’s pecking order.

And Lukaku lasted just two years before being shipped to Inter Milan, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the Norwegian’s spell in the dugout.

United, by breaking their record to sign Felix, would be making a major statement of intent.

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And if the 23-year-old was to arrive in January, it would certainly be intriguing to see how he fares.

United have a mixed record when it comes to recruiting in the New Year, with Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra substantial hits.

The duo touched down in 2006 and would go on to win five Premier League titles before leaving in 2014.

Bruno Fernandes has also been a success story, even though the United star doesn’t score or assist with the same frequency of old these days.

But the less said about the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Zoran Tosic and Manucho, the better.

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Speaking recently, meanwhile, Simeone insisted he wanted to keep Felix at Atletico despite the attacker’s problems this season.

“Joao is one of the players who has scored the most goals out of the forwards we have, beyond the fact that he has three now,” he said.

“He has the goal and hopefully he can continue to be with us because we need him.”

Felix has been named in the Portugal squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

Fernando Santos’ side are due to lock horns with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in the group stages of the competition.