Sir Jim Ratcliffe has £440m reason to avoid Vinicius Junior transfer for Manchester United

Manchester United will forever have the pull of one of football's biggest clubs in the transfer market, despite their downfall on the domestic and European stage.

Add their complete failure to make a splash in the Champions League since 2011, United have fallen way behind the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in terms of on-the-pitch success. Despite this, big names are constantly linked with a move to Old Trafford.

And despite Erik ten Hag's side lurking in seventh-place in the Premier League, Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior is the latest superstar linked with a sensational move to Old Trafford. The Brazil international, one of the best attacking players in world football, has taken over the reins at Madrid since Karim Benzema's exit and boasts an impressive record.

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Since moving to the Santiago Bernabeu from Flamengo, Vinicius has scored 68 goals and assisted a further 68 in 241 games for Madrid. But according to Spanish outlet Sport, he could be sold to help finance a move for Kylian Mbappe in the summer.

A reported annual cost of £30million is the estimated cost of Mbappe's salary, should he decide to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. According to Sport, United are showing interest in Vinicius and would be 'willing' to pay a colossal £130million to take him off Madrid’s hands.

That deal would make him United's record arrival, surpassing the many who have been signed for big-money deals. However, United have been here before and under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's running of football operations, a deal is incredibly unlikely.

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