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Manchester United hold an interest in £44m-rated La Liga midfielder: report

Manchester United have been credited with an interest in Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey, who has a £44m (€50m) release clause on his existing contract with the Spanish club.

The Ghana international has made 174 appearances for Atletico since graduating from the youth system and he has been linked with a Premier League move over the past few years.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Atletico are keen to extend Partey’s contract beyond the summer of 2023 and negotiations are being planned with the midfielder’s representatives.

However, their failure to do so could attract interest from elite European clubs and United are understood to be one of the admirers of the 26-year-old.

Partey can play in different midfield positions but he has primarily featured as the holding midfielder during the course of his playing career.

At United, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay have been the regular choices for the position but the club will no doubt want a replacement for the former in the near future.

Prior to the coronavirus shutdown, Matic found himself in a superb run of form from the defensive midfield role but at the age of 31, United can’t depend on him for an extended period of time.

Meanwhile, McTominay has impressed from the position but he is much more comfortable playing in the centre of the park and pressing forward to link up with his teammates.

As such, Partey would prove an ideal midfield purchase for Solskjaer, who can stay put for the long-term but any move may depend on his contract status at Atletico.

He currently has a £44m release clause on his contract but a renewal with Atletico could put him beyond United’s reach as the Spanish side will definitely increase the value of the buy-out clause.