Man Utd and Chelsea both 'open talks' to sign one of football's 'richest players' in late January window move

Manchester United and Chelsea are both considering a late January move for a striker that could only cost in the region of £510,000, according to reports in Spain.

Martin Braithwaite, who currently plays for Spanish second division side Espanyol following spells at Barcelona and Middlesbrough, is the LaLiga 2's top goalscorer this season with 12 goals in 22 games.

The 32-year-old, who is said to have a net worth of £216 million thanks to a number of business ventures, has a release clause of £6 million, according to Marca, but he could be available for a bargain price.

Braithwaite's contract is structured so that he would be able to leave Espanyol for free if they fail in their bid for promotion.

That being said, a club would be forced to pay £510,000 if Luis Miguel Ramis' side return to Spain's top flight at the first time of asking.

Manchester United and Chelsea, meanwhile, are keen on bringing the player to their respective clubs in the final days of the January window, says Marca, who claim both teams are ‘exploring the possibility’ of a move.

"The operation is underway and sources close to it speak that progress is being made so that the Premier League teams do not have to pay the seven million euros that the Danish forward's clause dictates," the report claims.

They also suggest that negotiations 'are open' with both clubs.

Braithwaite, who has made 69 appearances for his country since 2013, also wants to be an 'important player' for Denmark at this summer's European Championship.

A move would almost certainly increase his chances of making the squad.

Image credit: Getty

As mentioned earlier, Braithwaite has enjoyed great success away from the football world.

In 2017, Braithwaite is said to have invested $850,000 in a real estate business and partnered with his uncle, Philip Michael. Together they reportedly own real estate that is worth €250 million and are prolific in the New York, Philadelphia, Jersey City and San Antonio areas.

In 2020, Forbes claimed the former Barcelona striker made a huge amount from various investments and was only behind then-captain Lionel Messi when it came to overall earnings.

As of 2022, Braithwaite also has a clothing business called 'Trente' with his wife Anne-Laure Louis – a French entrepreneur, journalist and TV personality – as well as a restaurant named 'Gave' in Barcelona.