Manchester United Targets Aurelien Tchouameni as Midfield Solution
Manchester United’s pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni has moved a step closer, with wages no longer viewed as a stumbling block – and Chelsea could yet play an unlikely supporting role in the saga.
United have identified the Real Madrid midfielder as their ideal successor to Casemiro as they prepare a major rebuild in the middle of the park. A £35 million deal for Atalanta’s Ederson is already in place, but that is only the start. The club are actively exploring up to three midfield additions ahead of next season as they look to arm Michael Carrick with a squad capable of competing with Europe’s elite.
Alex Scott of Bournemouth has emerged as an alternative to West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, who is being strongly courted by Tottenham Hotspur. For the No 6 role, though, United’s thinking is clear: Tchouameni sits at the top of the list, with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba also under consideration.
On Monday, Fabrizio Romano underlined that Tchouameni is a priority target for United but warned that his current salary at Madrid could complicate negotiations. That concern now appears to be easing.
Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed that United are ready to pay the Frenchman at a level befitting a cornerstone signing.
“Tchouameni’s wages are not an issue in my opinion,” he told The United Stand. “Manchester United would be prepared to make a player like that one of their top earners.
“They’re not in that territory of £300,000 [per week] Rashford, Sancho-type wages, but nor is Tchouameni by the way.
“So I’m not aware that personal terms with Tchouameni would be a problem.”
The financial groundwork, then, looks solid. The real complication lies in Madrid’s own plans.
Jacobs laid out the key question facing the European champions: “The challenge is, what midfielder do Real sign? Is it in Tchouameni’s position? Even if it isn’t, do they bring in enough funds elsewhere, or do they need one big sale to make a play at Enzo Fernandez?”
That is where Chelsea enter the frame. Jose Mourinho has made it clear he wants Enzo Fernandez at the Bernabeu, and talks are expected to begin between Chelsea and Real Madrid over a potential deal. Should Madrid commit heavily to prising Fernandez out of Stamford Bridge, they may need to sacrifice a major asset to balance the books. Tchouameni instantly becomes the obvious candidate.
Jacobs does not see United backing off if that scenario unfolds.
“So I doubt Man Utd would be walking away from a prospective Tchouameni deal [based] on wages,” he added. “I think they would hold some optimism that if the player genuinely becomes available, it’s a viable move.”
Madrid, for their part, are confident of landing Fernandez, a stance that could have significant repercussions for both United and Liverpool, who have long admired Tchouameni.
United know the scale of the investment required. An offer in the region of £70m will be needed to tempt Madrid into talks, a figure that, in today’s market, could prove a shrewd outlay for one of the leading defensive midfielders in world football.
If Real Madrid push ahead for Enzo and open the door, United will have a rare chance: a 24-year-old anchor, already proven at the highest level, available at a price they consider manageable and on wages they are prepared to match. The question now is not whether they can afford him.
It is whether they dare let someone else get there first.
