Manchester United’s summer shopping list keeps growing. But the price tags attached to their preferred targets have become a real headache.
Elliot Anderson was the dream guy early on. Nottingham Forest, though, wants anyone who comes calling to smash the British transfer record. That’s a non-starter for most clubs, United included.
So the focus shifted to Mateus Fernandes at West Ham. Even with the Hammers sliding into the Championship, they’re holding firm at around £80 million for the Portuguese midfielder. That’s steep for a player from a relegated side, no matter how talented.
United has already locked in Ederson from Atalanta for about £38.8 million with add-ons. Director of football Jason Wilcox reportedly pushed hard for that deal, convinced the Brazilian’s work rate and physical style will translate well to the Premier League grind. That move checks a box. But the midfield rebuild isn’t finished.
According to Corriere dello Sport via the Manchester Evening News, United is also eyeing Juventus’s Khephren Thuram. And here’s where it gets interesting. The Frenchman could be available for around £35 million because Juve missed out on Champions League money and needs to balance the books.
Now, United isn’t actively working on a Thuram deal at this moment. But given his experience, his age (25), and that price point, Wilcox should probably push harder. Thuram fits what United needs alongside Kobbie Mainoo better than Fernandes does.
Think about how Michael Carrick set things up in the second half of last season. He didn’t give Mainoo and Casemiro rigid assignments behind Bruno Fernandes. Both had freedom to push forward and cover for each other in transition. That approach needs midfielders who can do a bit of everything. Attack, defend, carry the ball, win it back.
Thuram is built for that. At 6-foot-4, he’s a presence in duels. But he’s not just a big body. His close control is sharp, and his ability to drive through midfield and pick passes can break down even disciplined defenses. Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti called him a “super intelligent” player earlier this year. That’s not nothing.
People have compared him to Patrick Vieira for how he uses that frame to win possession and dribble forward. Those are big shoes to fill, but the comparison isn’t random.
One more thing. Thuram played for OGC Nice in Ligue 1 before moving to Italy. INEOS owns Nice. So the brass at United already has a pretty good read on his character and ability. That makes this an easier evaluation than some other targets.
United might already have Ederson in the bag. But if they want a versatile midfield partner for Mainoo who won’t break the bank in the same way Fernandes would, Thuram is the guy sitting right there. The question is whether Wilcox and the INEOS group will make the call.
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