Manchester United hopes to persuade Tchouaméni to take a pay cut to join, but the offer has been rejected! The first new signing of the summer window has arrived for a medical, with a signing date already set

In the battle for Matheus Fernandes, Manchester United fell short against Tottenham. Former player Rio Ferdinand voiced an opinion that reflects a segment of supporters, suggesting the Red Devils might be holding out for Real Madrid's French star Aurélien Tchouaméni.

The 26-year-old Tchouaméni is currently representing the French national team at the World Cup, with earlier rumors indicating Real Madrid might consider offers for him. Ferdinand claimed his former club is "saving funds" to secure the midfielder.

"I woke up to news that West Ham's M. Fernandes moved to Tottenham for a staggering £85 million—it shocked me," Ferdinand said. "I think Manchester United and Arsenal have made it very clear that they won't overpay for players they don't deem worth it this transfer window. I'm going to take a guess and say United is raising money for one specific player: Tchouaméni. If he becomes available on the market, United won't miss out—they can't afford to. If the price isn't right, they might even offload one or two other players."

Ferdinand's viewpoint resonates with some fans who genuinely believe there's a chance to land Tchouaméni. But as it stands, this is just wishful thinking—similar to when some Red Devils supporters fantasized about Elliott Anderson choosing Old Trafford, interpreting his interactions with United academy product Kobbie Mainoo in the England setup as a "sign" of his arrival, only to be proven wrong.

According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United indeed dream of signing Tchouaméni, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS team wanted the Real Madrid anchor to accept a salary reduction, which has already been rejected by his agent. Tchouaméni has no intention of leaving Real Madrid at the moment, let alone taking a pay cut.

Romano stated that United's failure to land M. Fernandes was not out of generosity but simply because they didn't have as much money as Tottenham. "Manchester United missed out on M. Fernandes, who joined Tottenham for a club-record £85 million fixed fee, with West Ham accepting that offer. United only contacted the player's agent and West Ham shortly before the deal was finalized, but they were unwilling to pay the full £85 million upfront, preferring to reach that total through add-ons. M. Fernandes was a key target for United, but despite lengthy negotiations, the deal collapsed due to the financial gap."

As for Tchouaméni, Romano explained: "Manchester United view Tchouaméni as a dream signing. The club highly rates the player and still plans to bring in at least one more midfielder after Ederson to strengthen the midfield. However, the total cost—transfer fee plus wages—remains too high. The only realistic solution would be to negotiate a significantly reduced salary, but that is not achievable at the moment. Therefore, United will reassess various options."

Rumors that Real Madrid might accept £70 million for Tchouaméni are pure fantasy. Madrid paid €80 million to sign him from Monaco in 2022, and amid rising midfield prices this summer, the "Galácticos" are not a charity. For Real Madrid to even consider selling Tchouaméni, the price would surely be at least €100 million—or even £100 million (€120 million)! If United wants to sign him, a hefty transfer fee and high wages are unavoidable.

Another United legend, Paul Scholes, insists the club should pursue Sandro Tonali. Newcastle's 26-year-old Italian midfielder has reportedly agreed to join Tottenham, though the two clubs have yet to settle on a transfer fee. Scholes said: "Manchester United's midfield is a major issue, and there hasn't been much movement in reinforcing it yet. I've said before that I really like Tonali. Several clubs are interested in him, especially Tottenham. United seems to have lost interest, and I can't understand why. He knows the Premier League, has been at Newcastle for two or three years, and is a top-class midfielder."

Scholes believes that if United wants to compete next season, a big-money signing for a midfielder is inevitable. "Are United willing to spend £90 million to £100 million to sign Tonali? I don't know. But I think if they want to challenge for the title next year, they have to make a move."

Two midfielders are already confirmed to join Manchester United this summer: Brazil's World Cup international Ederson, and 16-year-old Colombian talent Cristian Orozco. The Athletic confirms that Orozco arrived in Manchester this week and will undergo a medical.

Under current transfer regulations, an international transfer can only happen when a player turns 18. Orozco's 18th birthday is on July 13. Manchester United has reached a transfer agreement with Fortaleza, and once he turns 18, he will sign a professional contract and complete his registration.

Orozco captained Colombia's U17 national team to the final of the South American U17 Championship, earning a recommendation from Manchester United's chief South American scout, Giuseppe Antonaccio. Once the paperwork is finalized, Orozco will immediately join the Manchester United Under-21 side, coached by Adam Lawrence, as the U21 team prepares for its preseason tour in Germany.

The club has decided to keep the young player at Carrington for next season rather than sending him out on loan immediately. The academy staff plan to carefully manage his physical adaptation to better integrate into the high-intensity training environment in England.