It has been reported that Manchester United have given up on Joao Felix after learning how expensive it would be to sign the star player currently playing for Atletico Madrid.

The Portuguese star is eager to leave the club that plays in the LaLiga, but it is likely that a transfer would cost United more than half a million pounds PER GAME.

The cost of a deal for Joao Felix has put off Manchester UnitedCredit: EPA

The Red Devils have also missed out on signing Cody Gakpo Credit: Getty

Atletico is asking for a loan fee of at least £8 million, and the total cost of the deal, including Felix’s wages, would be £16 million.

According to The Times, there would also be no opportunity to convert the loan into a permanent financial arrangement.

Felix would cost the Red Devils more than £500,000 per game, making him an extremely pricey short-term option. The Red Devils still have 23 games to play in the Premier League this season, and even if they are successful in the cups, that means they will still have to play in the Premier League.

The LaLiga club is interested in retaining the services of their star player, who was acquired from Benfica in 2019 at a cost of £110 million for the organisation.

Recently, Miguel Angel Gil Marn, the chief executive of Atletico, made the following statement: “The reasonable thing is to think that he is leaving, although I would love for him to continue.”

According to a report in The Times, Erik ten Hag’s allies have reportedly decided to shift their focus to other targets.

As the club searches for a player to take the place of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was recently released, they require additional firepower.

They were recently unsuccessful in their attempt to sign PSV standout Cody Gakpo.

The forward from the Netherlands was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford; however, Liverpool managed to sneak in at the last minute and reach an agreement with him to sign with them.

United had reached an agreement with him to sign with the club during the summer transfer window; however, the club ultimately decided to finalise a deal for Brazilian winger Antony.

Ten Hag has stated that he is interested in adding a forward to the team, but the player must be the “right one” for the position.

He said: “Yes, we are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one.

“The right one is a player who contributes quality to the team rather than simply increasing the size of the squad because doing so will only cause problems for you.

“And, of course, you are aware that the bar is set pretty high here at Manchester United.”

There is a possibility that Man United manager Ten Hag will not need to find a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo because Rashford and Martial have shown that they are talented.

Marcus Rashford has been challenged by ERIK TEN HAG to score 20 goals in the league for Manchester United every season. ERIK TEN HAG believes that Marcus Rashford should be capable of reaching this goal.

If the manager of Manchester United wants his team to finish in the top four in 2023, he had better hope that his prediction is accurate, and he might as well add a similar prediction for Anthony Martial as well.

Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford both shone vs ForestCredit: Getty

Early indications were promising, with Rashford opening the scoring and setting up the second for his French teammate inside the first 22 minutes of a 3-0 win over Forest.

Because, in the end, Ten Hag appears doomed to be a loan ranger in next month’s transfer window, with the Red Devils’ manager unable to make a permanent signing.

Ten Hag’s decision to release sulky superstar Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup break was sound business, but it put him under even more pressure to sign a striker in January.

However, recent events appear to indicate that the plan is on hold.

On Boxing Day, rising Dutch star Cody Gakpo announced his move to Liverpool for a fee of £37 million, which could rise to £50 million.

That came as a surpri/s/e to Ten Hag, who had hoped to sign his countryman next month even if he does not immediately fill the void left by Ronaldo’s departure – with the young Flying Dutchman more of a wide player than a number nine.

It appears that the Glazers’ attempts to sell the club in the new year, combined with a summer of big spending, will leave no major funds available, leaving Ten Hag with only a loan signing.

Even Portuguese wonder kid Joao Felix, who is available at Atletico Madrid, is out of United’s price range due to the multi-million dollar loan fee demanded by the Spanish club.

Instead, United will look for bargains among veteran strikers, free agents, and loans-to-buy.

Fans remember – not always fondly – Edinson Cavani, Odion Ighalo, Radamel Falcao, and, further back, Henrik Larsson.

Ten Hag is now looking in that direction, though Rashford and Martial are heading in the right direction based on the win over Forest – even if their current Premier League tally of five and three goals, respectively, is hardly Erling Haaland territory.

Both have a career season high of 17 league goals, which they achieved in the same 2019-20 season.

And, while it will be a tall order with only 23 games remaining, Ten Hag could do with both of them hitting that kind of form for the rest of the season.