Manchester United’s summer midfield shopping list keeps getting longer. And the names they actually landed keep getting smaller.
The club already locked up Ederson Silva from Atalanta for about £38 million, which is fine. But they whiffed on Elliot Anderson, who went to Man City. They missed on Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes, both of whom chose Tottenham. So now it’s back to the board for Michael Carrick’s squad, and the targets are getting bolder.
Aurelien Tchouameni is at the top of that list. But according to multiple reports, there’s a catch — and it’s not a small one.
The Tchouameni situation, explained
Fabrizio Romano broke it down pretty plainly. Man United internally see Tchouameni as the ideal replacement for Casemiro. They like his mentality, his pedigree, the way he reads the game. But two things have to fall into place.
First, the money. Tchouameni is on a massive salary at Real Madrid, and United have already told his camp that any move would require him taking a pay cut. Not a small adjustment either — a fundamentally different number than what he’s getting at the Bernabeu. That’s a tough sell for a 26-year-old France international who still has two years left on his deal.
Second, Real Madrid has to actually want to sell. And right now, according to Romano, United haven’t gotten any signal from the Spanish side that they’re willing to negotiate. Madrid prefers to move players out before bringing new ones in, but they haven’t given United the green light to even sit down and talk.
The Athletic added that United are “ready” if Madrid decides to make Tchouameni available. But that’s a big if.
Andrey Santos is the other name to watch
While Tchouameni is the dream scenario, Santos might be the more realistic one. The Athletic reports that United have turned some attention toward the Chelsea midfielder, though they haven’t opened formal talks yet. The price tag is reportedly around £50 million.
Chelsea, for what it’s worth, apparently wouldn’t block a move if it works for everyone involved. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement to keep him, but it does leave the door open.
Santos is younger. He’s less expensive than Tchouameni. And he’s already shown flashes in the Premier League. But he’s not the same kind of established, world-class presence that United’s midfield desperately needs right now.
What about Felix Nmecha?
He’s another option, but the price is absurd. Borussia Dortmund values the 25-year-old Germany international at around €120 million — roughly £103 million. That’s not happening. United have other holes to fill and that kind of money for one midfielder, even a talented one, doesn’t make sense for a team that still needs two or three bodies in the middle of the park.
So the board is set. United has targets. They have cash. But they need Real Madrid to blink first on Tchouameni, or Chelsea to get serious about Santos, or they’ll be back to scrolling through the market again.
Leave a Comment