Manchester United have warned Atletico Madrid that they are not prepared to meet their request for right-back Kieran Trippier this summer.
United have identified Trippier as their ideal target to strengthen both sides of their defense, but they recently saw a £ 10m bid for the 30-year-old who was beaten back by Atletico, who want much more than selling their starting right-back. .
There has been some confusion about how much Atletico are looking for. The Guardian says his asking price has been set at around £ 34 million, which is similar to the release clause in his contract, but BBC Sport claims it is close to £ 20 million.
Even though it is the lower price, United are not considered willing to pay that kind of money for a player who turns 31 in September and who only has one year left on his contract, even if it is another fight.
Trippier signed a three-year deal when he joined Atletico from Tottenham in 2019, which means he would only have 12 months left on his contract now, but it has been suggested that an extension of 12 months was quietly triggered earlier this summer.
Trippier’s contract may have been quietly extended / Visionhaus / Getty Images
AS reports that Trippier had a clause in his contract that would trigger another 12 months if he played 20 matches in all competitions during the last season. He knocked that number out of the park, played 35 times for Diego Simeone’s side and apparently triggered this mystery clause.
Atletico have not confirmed that extension, which seems to have caused some real confusion in the media.
The length of Trippier’s contract is likely to determine Atletico’s asking price. With two years left on his business, they are well within their rights to demand £ 30 million + for their starting right-back, while the figure of £ 20 million sounds fair if his contract really expires.
United are reluctant to splash out on Trippier / PressFocus / MB Media / Getty Images
Regardless of when his contract expires, it seems that United are hesitant to go much higher than their original offer of 10 million pounds, which could leave the deal dead in the water.
Apart from Trippier, United have previously been linked with Norwich City’s Max Aarons, although he is expected to lead somewhere close to £ 40 million.
For more from Tom Gott, follow him on Twitter!
