Manchester United appear to be gaining ground in their pursuit of Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas, with reports suggesting the club could now be front-runners for the 19-year-old's signature.
The development comes after United's approach for Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall was rejected by the Magpies. According to Sky Sports, Newcastle have informed United in no uncertain terms that the 21-year-old is not available for transfer this summer, a stance that comes after the club already parted ways with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.
With the Hall pursuit closed off, United's focus has shifted elsewhere in their search for defensive reinforcements at left-back. The club had also been linked with Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is capable of playing in that position despite primarily operating as a midfielder. However, sources close to Standard Sport indicate that United will not be pursuing a move for the Gunners academy product this summer.
Instead, attention has turned firmly toward Salinas, a versatile defender who has impressed United scouts with his performances at the Under-19 European Championships earlier this week. The 19-year-old still has three years remaining on his current deal with Racing Santander and has emerged as one of the most sought-after young defenders in Spanish football, attracting interest from Barcelona as well as United.
Racing's sporting director, Chema Aragon, has been clear about the club's position regarding any potential departure, stating that suitors would need to meet the player's release clause in full. "He has a contract with us, as you know," Aragon said. "So, if they don't bring the release clause, you know what's going to happen."
That release clause is set at €16 million (approximately £13.7 million), a fee that United are reportedly prepared to pay in order to secure the young defender's services. Salinas, for his part, had initially been said to favor a move to Barcelona, the reigning LaLiga champions, over other suitors.
However, the picture has shifted according to Spanish outlet SPORT, who report that while Barcelona retain an interest in the teenager, the Catalan club are not willing to trigger his release clause. This reluctance from Barcelona could open the door for United to complete a deal, with Salinas reportedly open to a switch to Old Trafford should Barcelona fail to follow through with a concrete offer.
The pursuit of Salinas represents part of a broader effort under manager Michael Carrick to identify young, versatile defensive talent as United look to strengthen their squad. The teenager's ability to operate in multiple defensive positions has made him an attractive target for clubs looking to add flexibility to their backline.
With Newcastle standing firm on Hall and the Lewis-Skelly deal now off the table, Salinas has become an increasingly central figure in United's transfer plans. Should Barcelona indeed step back from pursuing the release clause, United could find themselves well-placed to secure a deal for the highly-rated defender in the coming weeks.
The situation continues to develop as the summer transfer window progresses, with all parties expected to make further moves in the coming days.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (standard-football).