Manchester United still dreaming of signing Tchouaméni? Real Madrid gives a clear answer! Carrick's top transfer target remains undecided

Manchester United have a strong desire to bring in Aurélien Tchouaméni, the French midfielder from Real Madrid, yet the likelihood of the transfer has evaporated. According to Italian transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils view Tchouaméni as the ideal successor to Casemiro, valuing his defensive and offensive contributions as well as his trophy-winning experience. However, two key hurdles remain: Madrid’s unwavering stance that he is not for sale, and his £260,000-per-week salary.

The 26-year-old Tchouaméni's contract with Real Madrid runs until 2028. Club president Florentino Pérez, when asked whether the French midfielder would stay at the Bernabéu next season, replied unequivocally: "In my view, of course he will."

Having won the Champions League with Real Madrid and played in a World Cup final for France, Tchouaméni possesses extensive big-match experience, making him a dream target for Manchester United. Late in the season, it was reported that he clashed with Federico Valverde during training, leading to both being fined €500,000 by the club, which some thought might increase United’s chances of signing him.

However, Real Madrid president Pérez told Spanish newspaper El País that both players will remain with the team. This means United have missed their opportunity, as even in their heyday, the Red Devils rarely managed to buy players Madrid were unwilling to sell. United have previously signed Real Madrid's Di María, Varane, and Casemiro, but only when those players demanded a transfer or Madrid were eager to offload them.

Meanwhile, at the French national team base in Clairefontaine, Tchouaméni downplayed the conflict with Valverde. "Obviously something happened, you can see and hear the news, but the situation was blown out of proportion. When you play for Real Madrid, everything gets huge attention. There’s a lot of nonsense being reported. I saw stories saying we fought and that I injured him, but that’s not true. I don’t want to go into details," he said.

Tchouaméni added: "The most important thing is the club knows what happened. Many things occur in the dressing room that don't get reported. Life goes on. Federico (Valverde) and I share the same goal: winning titles with Real Madrid. This is not a problem. Personally, there’s no issue between us now."

Real Madrid have already lined up a reunion with José Mourinho. Once the new president is chosen, Mourinho will officially sign a three-year contract and return to the Bernabéu. According to Spanish media, Mourinho intends to keep Tchouaméni in the squad for his first season back.

Therefore, Manchester United’s midfield recruitment plans can essentially rule out Tchouaméni. The club has been planning to rebuild its midfield before the World Cup, and by the time the tournament kicks off on June 11, they expect to complete the first piece of the puzzle by signing Atalanta’s Ederson.

The 26-year-old Ederson is valued at around £38 million. Although his omission from Brazil’s World Cup squad means there is no time pressure on his transfer, the deal is expected to be finalized before the tournament begins. Ederson will be one of at least two new midfielders joining United this summer, and if Ugarte departs, there could be as many as three arrivals.

Ederson’s arrival will add a versatile midfielder to the squad. He can play as a defensive midfielder or push forward, capable of filling either of the two No.6 roles in Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 system. However, he is not the first-choice replacement for Casemiro; whether he ranks as a second-tier or third-tier option remains uncertain.

Manchester United are also monitoring other midfielders. They maintain strong interest in West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes, who will leave the "Hammers" after their relegation. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested, but the player prefers to join the Red Devils.

West Ham are demanding £80 million for the 21-year-old Fernandes, while United are hoping to negotiate down to £40 million. The final price could settle in the middle at £60 million. This would make Fernandes potentially the most expensive midfield signing of the summer, or alternatively a second-tier target.

Manchester United have been searching for a top-class No.6 for months, with a long list of candidates. Besides the already ruled-out Tchouaméni, 23-year-old Nottingham Forest player Elliott Anderson has long been considered the primary target, but the England international himself prefers a move to Manchester City, and his price tag would exceed £100 million.

United are unwilling to give up, arguing that although Anderson’s first choice is City, he is not opposed to playing for the Red Devils. Therefore, they cannot abandon the chase just because a player has high ambitions. In this matter, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has once again abandoned his previously stated principle of "only signing players who are determined to play for Manchester United."

Ironically, United’s interest in Sandro Tonali has reportedly cooled due to his high transfer fee and wages. Yet Anderson not only favors City but also commands an even higher transfer fee, and his wage demands are not significantly lower.

If Brighton’s asking price for Carlos Baleba remains as high as it was a year ago, United will not pursue him. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton was left out of England’s World Cup squad, and there are internal doubts at Old Trafford about whether he can form a midfield partnership with Kobbie Mainoo in the Premier League.

This means the identity of Manchester United’s most important midfield signing this summer remains a mystery. However, it must be stressed that the transfer window has not yet opened, and the situation could change at any time. One possibility is to make Fernandes the first choice and then sign Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, who was a favorite of Carrick during his time at Boro. But United would prefer not to implement that plan; it is a last-resort contingency.

Since Carrick took over, Manchester United have achieved excellent results, collecting 39 points from 17 Premier League matches—the best in the league. However, that was achieved while competing only in the Premier League. Next season they return to the Champions League, where squad depth will be crucial, and the new midfield signing will be key to success. Whether in Europe or domestically, success depends on the quality of the starting XI, and United need a top-class No.6; without one, winning titles is simply impossible.