Manchester United's Pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni Gains Momentum
Manchester United’s pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni has moved a step closer, with wage demands no longer viewed as a stumbling block – and Chelsea’s own midfield saga potentially opening the door.
United have made the Real Madrid enforcer their ideal successor to Casemiro as they attempt a full-scale rebuild in the centre of the pitch. A £35million deal for Atalanta’s Ederson is already in place, but that is only one piece of a far bigger plan. Mateus Fernandes could slip away to Tottenham, yet the intent from Old Trafford is clear: three new midfielders before next season, and a squad capable of matching Europe’s elite for Michael Carrick.
Alex Scott of Bournemouth has emerged as a live option if West Ham’s Fernandes cannot be prised away. For the holding role, the most important position in that reshaped engine room, United are weighing Tchouameni against Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. One is already a Champions League-level destroyer. The other, a high-upside project. The preference is obvious.
On Monday, Fabrizio Romano underlined that Tchouameni sits right at the top of United’s shortlist, but flagged his sizeable Real Madrid salary as a potential obstacle. That concern has been swiftly challenged.
Transfer reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed that United are ready to go big on personal terms to get their man.
“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.”
In other words, if Real Madrid open the door, United believe they can walk through it.
The bigger question sits in Madrid’s boardroom, not in United’s wage structure. Jacobs pointed to the domino that could change everything: Enzo Fernandez.
“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?” he said.
“Jose Mourinho has said he wants Enzo Fernandez, and this is why talks are expected to begin between Chelsea and Real Madrid.
“So I doubt Man Utd would be walking away from a prospective Tchouameni deal [based] on wages.
“I think they would hold some optimism that if the player genuinely becomes available, it’s a viable move.”
Real Madrid, as revealed earlier on Friday, are confident of landing Fernandez. If Chelsea cash in, the knock-on effect could be dramatic. A marquee arrival in Enzo’s mould would crowd an already talent-heavy midfield at the Bernabeu and could push Madrid towards a significant sale to balance both the squad and the books.
That is where United – and Liverpool – sense opportunity.
The price is no secret. United are expected to have to bid around £70m to tempt Madrid into talks. For one of the most complete defensive midfielders in world football, a player entering his prime years with Champions League pedigree, that figure looks less like a gamble and more like a statement.
United know the scale of what they are trying to build under Carrick. Ederson is coming. Other targets are being lined up. But the anchor to it all, the signing that would change the feel of their midfield overnight, is Aurelien Tchouameni.
Now the wages are no longer the problem. The only question left is whether Real Madrid are really prepared to let him go.
