Man United must smash British transfer record for Joao Felix

Manchester United will have to make Joao Felix the most expensive player in their history if they want to bring him to Old Trafford this summer.

Benfica have set an initial valuation of £150m for their prize asset amid interest from Europe’s leading clubs.

While they are prepared to lower those demands, it’s understood they will still seek a statement figure in the region of £100m, which United are not expected to meet.

Benfica’s asking price is also likely to rule out interest from Manchester City, who are also huge admirers of Felix.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is already seeing the challenges of his first transfer window as United manager and is braced for frustration over some of his highest profile summer targets.

The United manager’s hopes are fading over an £80m deal for Jadon Sancho, while Matthijs de Ligt is also look out of reach.

Top target Sancho looks set to stay at Borussia Dortmund, despite United being prepared to make him the most expensive English player of all time.

There had been belief Dortmund would be convinced to sell if offered in excess of £80m – but the Bundesliga club are under no pressure to cash in after Christian Pulisic’s £57.6m move to Chelsea.

United are also convinced Ajax defender De Ligt is on his way to Barcelona – and only a spectacular U-turn would see him opt for a move to the Premier League, rather than Camp Nou.

Meanwhile, there are major doubts over their willingness to break the British transfer record for Felix, who they have scouted since the 19-year-old’s emergence in Benfica’s youth team.

Solskjaer has ambitious plans this summer.

Ed Woodward used the announcement of United’s latest financial results to confirm his intention to back the Norwegian’s overhaul of the squad, with the executive vice chairman anticipating a sizeable churn of players during this window.

Solskjaer is targeting a host of emerging talent, including Swansea winger Daniel James, while Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff is another who has caught his eye.

But fans are also hoping to see marquee names added to a squad that failed to secure Champions League football for the third time in six years.

Solskjaer has scheduled talks with Woodward and chief negotiator Matt Judge over his summer wish-list in the coming days.

He has already told United’s bosses he wants his business done by July 1 when players return for pre-season training.

While Solskjaer is desperate for a successful window to give him the best chance of a flying start next season, Woodward is under increasing scrutiny after the transfer failings of the past six years.

He is determined to prove the off-field commercial success will boost their prospects on it.

But failure to offer Champions League football to potential targets presents a challenge to Solskjær.

He wants to add as many as five players this summer - strengthening in every department.

Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes and Idrissa Gueye of Everton are among his midfield targets.

In defence Aaron Wan-Bissaka is high on his wanted list, while Harry Maguire and Kalidou Koulibaly are long-term targets at centre back.

The meeting with Woodward and Judge is expected to be used to finalise United’s summer plans before Solskjaer heads on holiday with his family.

When he returns to work, he hopes to see the majority, if not all of his targets in place.