Manchester United are keen to bolster their midfield this summer and an unexpected opportunity could be about to present itself
Manchester United’s midfield is their top priority this summer and with the transfer window a little more than a week old, the Reds are already making good strides in that area. Atlanta’s Ederson will be the first new addition to the ranks after United agreed a £35m plus add-ons deal for the Brazil international.
The 26-year-old’s late call-up to the World Cup has halted the progression of the deal. However, there is nothing to concern United fans and Ederson will be joining once his nation’s tournament ends. With one midfielder all but signed, the Reds have continued their hunt elsewhere.
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is admired by United but a deal looks set to be too much for the Reds. Manchester City’s rejected offer of £120m was always going to be well over what Ineos would agree to spend.
So the attention turned to West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes. The Hammers’ relegation to the Championship has put them in a tricky spot financially. They already declared in their most recent financial results that they would need to sell players in a bid to avoid Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions.
Understandably, Fernandes would be keen to remain in the Premier League next season and considering West Ham’s predicament, United will be confident they can eventually agree a deal with the Championship side. However, the Reds are not the only ones keen on the central midfielder.
Tottenham have been credited with interest in the 21-year-old, thus ensuring a move for Fernandes won’t be straightforward. With pressure building to sign Fernandes or risk having to move onto another target, an unexpected opportunity has opened up for the Reds.
According to reports, Real Madrid are now understood to be open to selling Aurelien Tchouameni this summer. It has been a month of change for Los Blancos with Jose Mourinho taking over and appearing to be wasting little time overhauling the squad.
From United’s perspective, this news will be a major shock. It is understood Real had been set on keeping Tchouameni despite him being at the centre of a squad disagreement earlier in the year.
However, were the midfielder to become available, as is claimed, United would be interested in signing him. That is no surprise either when you look at the defensive midfielder’s CV.
He has won the Champions League, La Liga, Club World Cup, Copa del Rey and two UEFA Super Cups while still being just 26. For the most part, the France international has been a key figure during this success.
That kind of experience is highly desirable for the Reds. They do not have a host of players who have been there and done it at the highest level.
Despite this, United’s interest in Fernandes makes the most sense. He is 21, played two full seasons in the Premier League and impressed in both, albeit those clubs were relegated to the Championship.
At the right price, Fernandes offers United a good opportunity to make a profit on his re-sale, should they wish to. Essentially, the midfielder is a ‘plug and play’ signing, who could fill in immediately next season, at an age where his best years are still to come.
On the other hand, Tchouameni is 26 and is in the peak of his career. This makes Real’s stance surprising, considering he featured so regularly for them last season. If a deal is there for the Reds, they would like to get it done though.
He would be a dream addition for United but there’s a long way to go before a deal can be completed. In the meantime, expect the Reds to keep digging away at a move for Fernandes.
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