United prepare to battle City for “incredible” Spanish conductor, INEOS will pay €100m to win the war – report

Manchester United are braced for a red-hot transfer battle to sign Pablo Barrios, with two of Europe’s leading clubs also tracking the Atletico Madrid dynamo, according to the latest report. Midfield is the priority TEAMtalk reveals the Red Devils remain intent on “signing a top-class midfielder” in 2026, with their plan unchanged by the shock departure of Ruben Amorim earlier this month. Michael Carrick has taken the reins at Old Trafford until the end of the season, and the 44-year-old coach has immediately implemented a 4-2-3-1 system in place of the Portuguese’s much-maligned 3-4-2-1. A new long-term replacement for Amorim is expected to be appointed this summer, when the pool of candidates will grow, though Carrick is believed to have one eye on winning the job permanently. Regardless of who is at the helm next season, at least one, if not two, high-profile midfielders will be signed, given the continued uncertainty over the futures of Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte and even Bruno Fernandes. United were understood to be prioritising options within the Premier League–with Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) and Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion) the primary targets. However, Barrios emerged as an option under serious consideration last month after scouts were impressed by his performances when they were in attendance to watch his teammate, Conor Gallagher. Gallagher was strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford himself this month, but ended up joining Tottenham Hotspur instead. It is believed United would have pursued a deal had Atletico been open to a loan deal, but the 25-year-old midfielder’s limitations on the ball meant there was little interest in a permanent transfer, despite his strengths off it. There is no such worry about Barrios, however, with the Spain international offering a complete skillset in Diego Simeone’s engine room–a manager notorious for being demanding on his midfielders. The 22-year-old combines the skill and technique that are hallmarks of La Liga with an industry and intensity out of possession that makes him ideally suited to English football. Sources reveal he is “spoken about glowingly” at the Theatre of Dreams, with their scouts blown away in person. A report explained by The Peoples Person even revealed United were considering a €100 million bid to prise the Spaniard from the Metropolitano Stadium, with his contract containing a €120m release clause – but the Red Devils are not alone in their interest.  PSG and City enter the race A report from Spain now reveals Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have entered the race for Barrios, with both clubs viewing him as an “ideal fit” in their midfields. Barrios is understood to be happy at Atletico, while the Spanish heavyweights are adamant he is not for sale. There is, however, acceptance that if an “exceptionally high offer” were to arrive, it would be difficult to turn down. “Atlético’s sporting management is very clear that only an exceptionally high offer could open a real debate about the midfielder’s future. In that regard, figures exceeding €100 million are being discussed as a starting point for negotiations. This amount reflects not only the player’s sporting value but also his importance within the Atlético project.” The reality is that both City and PSG’s midfield units are strong as they are, and the idea of spending in excess of €100m will be a difficult one to justify for both clubs, even with their financial powers. Conversely, United’s engine room is in desperate need of repair and that is where INEOS are likely to invest the bulk of their summer budget. This means a €100m price tag is far better value at Old Trafford than it is at the Etihad or the Parc des Princes – which should give United the impetus to beat out their rivals for Barrios’ signature. Featured image David Ramos via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.