Manchester United appreciate Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni ahead of the summer transfer window, with Fabrizio Romano issuing an update on the situation.
With Man United edging closer to securing a place in next season’s Champions League, they can undoubtedly look at a high calibre of transfer target with the ability to offer them football playing with Europe’s elite – something they have been unable to do since the 2023-24 campaign.
The Red Devils took a giant step towards sealing their place in the competition following their 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night, with the Blues’ follow-up defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday night meaning Michael Carrick’s side have an eight-point advantage over the sixth-placed Seagulls.
It has been well-documented that a top-five finish will be enough for Champions League football for next term, and United also have a game in hand on the south coast side as they look to secure the finish they need as soon as possible.
Behind the scenes, Jason Wilcox and senior United officials will be working on potential transfer targets, with Tchouameni emerging as a potential ambitious target in recent days.
Romano: Real Madrid Make Tchouameni Sale Decision
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 24: Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid CF at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
While United have reportedly been focusing on players with Premier League experience, such as Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, it appears as though are also considering players from abroad too who they think could significantly improve them.
GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed that Anderson is the club’s top midfield target, but the interest of arch-rivals Manchester City in the player could prove to be a problem for the Red Devils.
Should they fail to bring in the England international, it remains to be seen whether they pivot to another player who has played in the Premier League, or make a big move for someone who hasn’t like Tchouameni.
Speaking on his YouTube channel on Tuesday night, Romano confirmed that United like Tchouameni, but also said that Real have no intention of selling him this summer as things stand.
He said: “There are some players they really like. Tchouameni is for sure appreciated, but at the moment, from Real Madrid, they are not receiving any indication of doors being open about a potential exit in the summer transfer window.
“So at the moment, who doesn’t appreciate Tchouameni? But to even think about any possibility to get him, you need to understand what Real Madrid want to do. And at the moment, from Real Madrid, there are no indications of the club’s intention to get rid of Tchouameni.”
Tchouameni Would be Outstanding United Signing
If United wanted a big name with a similar presence to the departing Casemiro in the middle of the park, then Tchouameni would be the answer.
The tall and physical midfielder is approaching 200 appearances for Real Madrid, with 45 of those outings coming this season as he continues to show his importance to Los Blancos.
As well as that, the 26-year-old also has 44 caps for one of the best nations in the world in France, proving the pedigree he would bring to Old Trafford.
Tchouameni has been described as the ‘best defensive midfielder in the world’ by Chema Andres, which means he would fill the huge void Casemiro is about to leave alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
Given what Romano has said, a move seems unlikely right now, but the interest itself shows where INEOS want to take United, with Champions League football the next thing on their agenda.