Tchouameni Transfer News: United consider spectacular £85m Tchouaméni raid after London setbacks
Tchouameni Transfer News: Manchester United are ready to test Real Madrid’s resolve with an official approach for Aurélien Tchouaméni.
According to Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Old Trafford chiefs plan to open talks immediately. The 26-year-old Frenchman has rocketed to the top of Michael Carrick’s summer shortlist. It is a necessary pivot. United previously chased Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, but both midfielders snubbed Manchester in favour of Tottenham. Missing out hurt, but Champions League qualification gives United a massive chip at the negotiating table. They need a world-class anchor.
Madrid will play hardball. The Spanish giants want at least €100 million (£85m) before they even consider letting him board a flight to Manchester. His current contract runs until 2028, giving Real plenty of leverage. Still, change is coming to the Bernabéu. After finishing the season without a single trophy, the heavyweights in the boardroom want a squad shake-up. High earners like Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva have arrived, driving the wage bill through the roof. Someone has to make way. Tchouaméni could be the sacrificial lamb. (Via MEN)
The view from Spain and the salary hitch
The player’s stance is nuanced. United insider Andy Mitten notes that while the midfielder loves life in Madrid, he would realistically consider Old Trafford if his employers tell him he is surplus to requirements. That is the crucial detail. José Mourinho has already thrown a spanner in the works by publicly demanding that the player stays.
Then there is the financial side. Fabrizio Romano reports that United have informed the player’s camp that he must take a pay cut to join. INEOS are running a tighter ship these days, and matching his current Spanish package is a non-starter. Whether the player accepts a smaller weekly paycheck is a massive question mark.
Last year, the midfielder clocked up 2,622 minutes in La Liga, scoring once and maintaining a superb level of consistency. His European form was just as sharp, managing 13 starts alongside a goal and one assist in the Champions League. He is a physical powerhouse. The French international offers exactly the kind of presence United lack. Picture him sweeping up trouble, breaking up play, and letting Kobbie Mainoo create. It sounds perfect on paper.
Former Chelsea rock Marcel Desailly has already given the move his blessing, telling Sportscasting.com that United’s global pull remains unmatched and that the midfielder has the steel required for the English game. Pundit talk is cheap, though. United directors are drafting a massive opening bid, but sources in Spain still view the entire operation as a bit of a pipe dream.
Read: Man Utd plotting transfer raid for £43m Bundesliga defender
Other pieces of the puzzle are moving. Atalanta midfielder Ederson is close to wrapping up his £38m switch, with a medical scheduled now that Brazil are out of the World Cup. Carrick wants two new faces in the engine room, not just one. If Madrid refuse to budge, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is the backup option. Interestingly, Real would actually prefer to sell Eduardo Camavinga if pushed. United will have to stay patient, but £85m for a player of this class is the exact sort of gamble that changes seasons.
