​Manchester United made a significant late bid to sign Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni this summer, but ultimately failed to secure the deal. The Red Devils had been the strongest performers in the second half of last season, finishing third in the Premier League under Michael Carrick, who initially stepped in as a temporary replacement for former head coach Ruben Amorim and was given the job on a permanent basis in May. Carrick has been charged with restoring United to their former glory, with one of his first tasks this summer being a midfield overhaul.
Casemiro proved to be a dominant force in the engine room last season and remained essential to Carrick’s plans, but the Brazilian departed Old Trafford as a free agent, forcing United to search for a replacement. Recent reports have indicated that United have moved closer to signing Atalanta’s Ederson, and a deal for Chelsea’s Andrey Santos also appears to be progressing. However, INEOS remain eager to bring in a world-class midfielder to fill Casemiro’s shoes at the Theatre of Dreams, which continues to fuel links with long-term target Tchouameni.
Manchester United were expected to contend for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson this summer and were also connected with West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes. Yet the club missed out on both priority targets, complicating their transfer strategy for the window. While there is potential merit in Ederson and Santos if those deals materialize, United remain in dire need of a player like Tchouameni to steer the midfield. The Frenchman was one of Real Madrid’s brighter lights last season, recording two goals and two assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.
According to long-standing reports, United see the 26-year-old as the ideal successor to Casemiro at Old Trafford. However, the latest whispers suggest the Red Devils are likely to miss out on Tchouameni, with expectations that he will extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. This turn of events represents a major blow to United’s transfer plans, even though it appears they did make a genuine attempt to prize the player away from Real Madrid this week.
Defensa Central reported that United submitted a €120 million package for Tchouameni on Monday, comprising €100 million as a fixed fee and €20 million in potential bonuses. The outlet claimed that Florentino Perez rejected the offer, stating he did not want to sell the midfielder to Manchester United. The report further claimed that United had made a substantial bid for Aurélien Tchouaméni, but that neither Real Madrid nor the player’s camp were inclined to approve a move at this time.