Benfica have told Real Madrid to stump up more than £40million to sign highly-rated left-back Alvaro Carreras - but Manchester United can sign him for less than half that.
Carreras, 21, joined Benfica for a mere £5m last summer, having spent the second half of the 2023-24 season there on loan. The Spaniard, who United picked up from Madrid in 2017, never made his senior debut for the Red Devils, who also loaned him out to Preston North End and Granada.
Now a regular starter for Benfica, making 30 appearances already this season, Carreras' services are in demand. The Spain under-21 international registered his third assist of the season on Tuesday as Benfica suffered a dramatic 5-4 loss at home to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Carreras has also scored three goals for the Portuguese giants this term, flourishing under ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage. His form has sparked speculation of a January transfer but Benfica won't let him go on the cheap.
Spanish outlet Diario AS report that Benfica chiefs have set their asking price for other clubs at €50m (£42m). United, though, have a buyback close for much cheaper - €20m (£17m).
United manager Ruben Amorim's search for a left-back has led them to make a bid for Lecce's Patrick Dorgu, although the Red Devils' offer has since been rejected. United could now turn to Carreras, who was let go by predecessor Erik ten Hag.
Barcelona have also been linked with the 21-year-old, who isn't in a rush to leave Benfica, where he's under contract until 2029. Asked if he's thought about leaving before deadline day, Carreras told DAZN Portugal, via Record: "No.
"Actually, you never know, but I have a contract for many years here at Benfica, I'm happy. They gave me the opportunity to grow, and I owe everything to them."
Former Red Devils boss Ten Hag confirmed in October that the club would continue to track Carreras' progress, saying: "I think the process is perfect. We loan him to Preston, he got back, then we loan him to Granada, he didn't play so much there, and of course we, all the time, observed him and now we had the opportunity to sell him.
"But we have a buyback [clause] so we have control of the situation, I think that's what he needed. From Preston, then go to La Liga, go to Portugal [with Benfica], every time stepping up to a higher club and a better league. Now we have to see and assess the situation if he can be an option for us.
"But playing at Man United is not so easy, playing in the Premier League for Manchester United is not so easy. You need experience, also development. You get development from playing for better clubs and in better leagues."