Manchester United will have to wait until the summer to trigger Amadou Haidara’s release clause at RB Leipzig.
The midfielder, currently contracted to the Bundesliga giants until 2025, has a release clause of around £33million that becomes active in the summer, according to the Mail.
The Times reported last month that Ralf Rangnick is keen on linking up with the midfielder again.
The 23-year-old is currently in Cameroon where he is representing Mali in the African Cup of Nations.
However, if United are still keen on pursuing a move for the Leipzig midfielder, then they will have to stave off competition from Newcastle United.
The Mail claims that the Magpies are trying to pull off an “ambitious move” and bring the Malian to St James’ Park.
After signing Kieran Trippier. triggering Chris Wood’s £25million release clause and continuing to target further signings, the Toon Army have identified Haidara as another “key target” in the January transfer window.
Although, according to the report, Newcastle’s Saudi-led consortium expect the cost of any potential deal for the highly-rated midfielder to go beyond £80m.
With an interim boss at the helm, Manchester United are not going to consider paying £80m in January for a player who is currently on international duty and is available for nearly £50m less in a matter of months.
It would be a massive surprise to see Haidara join Newcastle in the midst of a relegation battle after competing at the African Cup of Nations.
The Mail claims that Haidara would want wages in the region of £160,000-per-week, which would make him Newcastle’s highest earner.
Although Leipzig are languishing in ninth place in the Bundesliga and failed to qualify for the Champions League last-16, Haidara will probably see out the season with the Red Bull side and assess his options in the summer.
By that time Manchester United should have appointed our next permanent manager and Rangnick would have moved upstairs into his consultancy role.
The German coach may recommend the signing of Amadou Haidara to the next manager, but time will tell whether any reported interest in the midfielder results in bid being submitted.
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