The rumour mill surrounding Manchester United has certainly begun rolling. With the January transfer window inching closer, the Red Devils have already been linked with numerous (unrealistic) players. Ralf Rangnick’s arrival has seen the club linked with a multitude of players and amongst the raft of players linked with United over the past week emerges the name of Joao Felix.

Considered to be amongst the finest talents in Europe, the young Portuguese winger has undeniably failed to fulfil his potential following his ambitious move to Atletico Madrid. As a result, following a stint marred with inconsistency, an unsurprising compulsion for a move to United serves well for the player and paper talk.

While a transfer to Old Trafford remains the unlikeliest of attainments for Felix, the winger could certainly prosper under the new manager. Though the Red Devils remain burdened by a bloated squad, a few departures combined with the potential of striking a sly deal with Atletico could see the club get hold of another young talent.

Nevertheless, an appetite to sign Joao Felix could see the club add to their never-ending list of perplexing footballing decisions. However, given the need to reassess their recruitment and the current crop of players, the Red Devils could certainly pounce on an appealing opportunity to sign a highly talented and marketable player going forward.

Square Pegs In Round Holes

Be it on the pitch or across the boardroom, since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the club, much to their impediment, have deplorably lacked those suited to fulfil designated roles over the years. The sanctioning of players such as Angel di Maria and Alexis Sanchez reflect the club’s indecisiveness in recruitment, and any appetite for the 22-year-old forward would be indicative of the festering incompetency prevalent across the decision-makers at United.

🔴 Manchester United are one of four clubs that are interested in Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix. Other teams interested include Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle [AS] pic.twitter.com/yj7pVTWenI

— FIVE (@FIVEUK) December 10, 2021

While the Atletico Madrid player retains potential and remains one of the most coveted youngsters across Europe, the Red Devils already possess a plethora of such talents within the academy and across the first-team squad. Senior internationals such as Anthony Martial, Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard are only a few amongst several players struggling for game-time, and Joao Felix will undeniably face the same fate if a move to Old Trafford materializes in the near future.

Although the Portuguese could potentially add a distinct dynamic, United’s priorities lie elsewhere. The club remain stacked with options across the attacking positions, and a move for the player would signal a lack of expansive thinking suffused throughout the recruitment process in the period before Rangnick’s appointment.

An Elusive Talent

Manchester United are no stranger to marquee signings crumbling under pressure to perform in the Premier League. The likes of Memphis Depay, Juan Sebastian Veron and Karel Poborsky, amongst many others, serve as examples of highly-talented players failing to enrich their development at United.

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Considering Felix’s unremarkable contributions to Atletico combined with United’s opulent range of players, the Portuguese could potentially end up wasting his prime years fighting for a first-team spot at the club. Only 22-years-of-age, Joao Felix will look to establish himself as a first-team player at any club.

However, at United, the chances of doing so remain limited given the club’s ambition to develop existing academy graduates into first-team players over the coming years. Felix undoubtedly possesses the potential to develop into a world-class talent, however, given United’s haunting blunders in transfer decisions over the past, both parties will be wary of avoiding any stumbling blocks in their own ambitions moving forward.

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