Overview
- Manchester United consider Aurélien Tchouaméni their top midfield target and a long-term successor to Casemiro, and have stepped up interest this week.
- United have told Tchouaméni’s representatives they cannot match his current Real Madrid salary and would need the player to accept reduced pay to join Old Trafford.
- Real Madrid have not given permission for formal talks and are reported to value Tchouaméni at roughly €90–€100 million, which strengthens their negotiating position given his contract runs to 2028.
- Spanish reports say United executives are preparing to travel to Madrid and an unverified claim on social media suggested a £70m approach, a figure widely judged too low for Madrid to accept.
- INEOS-era pay restraint, a compressed transfer window and linked stories about Eduardo Camavinga leaving Madrid mean the move is contingent on a change in price, club stance or the player’s willingness to take a pay cut, otherwise United will pursue alternative midfield targets.