Manchester United may have just been given a clearer idea of what it would take to sign Santiago Beltrán from River Plate.
United have already been asking about the 21-year-old goalkeeper, as we recently covered. Now there’s a figure being mentioned in Argentina for the next transfer window: River would reportedly start negotiations at €15m (£13m).
Perhaps more importantly, there’s growing expectation at the Argentine club that Beltrán will leave. That puts a rather different spin on all the recent talk about a new contract.
River set €15m starting point
TyC Sports reports that River are becoming convinced Beltrán’s days at the club are “numbered”. The thing is Atlético Madrid are the focus of their story, with the Spanish club considering Beltrán as a possible successor to Jan Oblak.
There’s been no contact between Atlético and River yet, though.
Still, the more interesting detail for Manchester United comes from River’s side. The Argentine club have reportedly let it be known that €15m (£13m) would be their starting point for negotiations in the next window.
River have been trying to renew Beltrán’s contract and reports have suggested they want to dramatically increase his clause. His current deal runs until December 2027.
That renewal remains a priority, but keeping him for years doesn’t appear to be the main idea.
| Every Manchester United signing 26/27 | Previous Club | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Player | From | Estimated Fee / Type |
| Carlos Baleba | Brighton & Hove Albion | £65m |
| Andrey Santos | Chelsea | £48m |
| Youri Tielemans | Aston Villa | £35m |
| Karl Darlow | Leeds United | Free |
Renewal could come before sale
TyC Sports says River want the extension to make sure they receive a transfer fee for Beltrán. That fits neatly with what we covered from ESPN Argentina. And to be fair a new contract shouldn’t necessarily be seen as bad news for United.
River seem to be trying to get themselves into the strongest possible position before selling. According to TyC Sports, there’s now a feeling around the club that an offer is simply a matter of time.
They’re even thinking about what comes next. Bono and Agustín Rossi are mentioned as possible replacements, although River haven’t made a move for either yet.
So there’s competition and no United bid yet. Still, if their enquiries turn into something more serious, they now appear to know where the conversation with River could begin.
