Atletico Madrid want to make sure that Manchester United get nowhere near their World Cup winning player by increasing his clause to €150 million.
Athletico Madrid reportedly want to raise Lucas Hernandez’s release clause to £135m to ward off interest from Manchester United. The highly-rated 22-year-old impressed for Diego Simeone’s men last season and starred in the World Cup this summer as France lifted the trophy.
The defender, who is equally adept at playing as center-back and left-back, is believed to have attracted the interest of United boss Jose Mourinho. The Red Devils failed to bring in a center-back in the summer transfer window and are looking to do better when the window reopens in January.
Hernandez, who signed a new contract in June tying him to Atletico until 2014, currently has a release clause set at £72m. But with interest from United and rivals Real Madrid, the club are thought to be working on increasing that amount.
According to France Football, the Europa League winners want to offer Hernandez a new deal that would increase his release clause to £135m. The France international would also have his wage increased to a level similar to that of Atletico’s best-paid players.
After a summer of disappointment in terms of incoming defenders at United, Mourinho will be hoping for more success in January. After United’s poor start to the Premier League season where the team’s defensive frailty has been highlighted more than once, incoming defensive reinforcements is a must.
If Atletico are to keep Hernandez, bumping up his release clause may need to happen sooner rather than later. While £72m would be a large amount to pay for the defender, United bosses could stump up the cash to bring him in.
Author’s Take:
I think at £72 million, he might have been money well spent considering the inflations in today’s market. But if the clause increases to £135 million and if United manage to spend it on a defender, it will bring a new era of spendings exactly like when Neymar went to PSG.
