Manchester United has inquired with Real Madrid about the price again! The target is still Tchouaméni, but this time the chances are increasing.

Manchester United has inquired with Real Madrid about the price yet again! This time the target is still Tchouaméni...

According to Manchester United correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, United has asked Real Madrid about Tchouaméni's situation. The 26-year-old French midfielder has just finished his World Cup journey and is enjoying a three-week holiday. His contract runs until 2028, and there have been reports that he has agreed to extend until 2031, but Real Madrid has not officially announced it yet.

Mourinho originally planned to keep Tchouaméni, but United still went ahead and asked. More importantly, according to The Sun, Real Madrid is willing to sell him if they receive a suitable offer.

And "where there is smoke, there is fire." This makes the deal suddenly more interesting.

Why is Manchester United so fixated on Tchouaméni?

To be honest, United really needs a top-class defensive midfielder right now.

Casemiro left for Inter Miami on a free transfer, leaving a huge gap for United. This summer's signings, André Santos and Tielemans, are not dedicated defensive midfielders. Although Santos can play as a defensive midfielder, he is only 22 years old and has only started 13 Premier League matches. United cannot rely on him to succeed Casemiro. United sees Santos more as a potential prospect rather than an immediate solution. Tielemans is more considered an 8th-position player, suitable for rotational roles in multi-front campaigns.

Next season, Bruno Fernandes and Mainoo will occupy two of the midfield starting positions, but the defensive capabilities of these two players are insufficient to form a barrier in midfield. In his prime, Casemiro was the top defensive midfielder, with not only elite defensive skills but also demonstrated good long-pass distribution and goal-scoring ability at United. Thus, Casemiro at United acted more like a hybrid between a 6th and 8th position player.

From this perspective, neither Santos nor Tielemans are perfect successors. Only Tchouaméni is the dream signing internally for United. The famous journalist Romano's exact words: "He (Tchouaméni) is the perfect midfielder because he has leadership, is a top-level player, an international-class defensive midfielder, and is the ideal successor to Casemiro."

Moreover, Tchouaméni fits perfectly into United's preferred transfer age range — 22 to 26 years old. At 26, he is in his prime and ready to play immediately.

In fact, United had the chance to sign him as early as 2021, but at that time Solskjær considered Rice as the primary target. Eventually, Real Madrid made an offer, and the story unfolded without suspense. Now, five years later, Rice has become the cornerstone of Arsenal's midfield, Tchouaméni has proven himself at Real Madrid, and United is still worried about the same position.

So, does United have a chance to sign the "midfield answer" from Real Madrid again? Possibly, but it depends on the departure of another top midfielder, Rodri.

Before this, Romano had already confirmed with "Here We Go" that Tchouaméni extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2031. According to ESPN, a conversation between Mourinho and Tchouaméni was key to the extension — the new coach clarified the player's central midfield role. The reported after-tax annual salary is 13 million euros.

Mourinho's logic is simple: he values defensive midfielders the most. At Chelsea, he had Makelele; at Inter, he had Cambiasso. He would not easily let go of a pure 6th position player like Tchouaméni.

So why hasn't the extension been officially announced after the World Cup? That's the variable!

The Sun's report says Real Madrid is willing to sell Tchouaméni if they receive a suitable offer, and the variable behind this is likely Rodri!

In today's football world, the only player who could convince Real Madrid to let go of Tchouaméni is Rodri. Rodri's defense is strong, his technique is top-notch, he can pass and control the ball, has extensive experience in big games, and is a Spanish player, making him an ideal 6th position player.

After Spain won the World Cup, rumors of Rodri joining Real Madrid have been heating up. The 30-year-old Spanish captain's contract with Manchester City expires next year, and the topic of a summer transfer has been widely discussed. If Real Madrid really wants to pursue Rodri, they must make room in the midfield. Although Tchouaméni is important, if a suitable offer comes in, Real Madrid might consider it.

According to reporters, United has enough financial space to invest heavily in one signing. Signing Tchouaméni is expected to cost around 70 million pounds. And if Rodri wants to leave Manchester City, given his contract only has one year left, the transfer fee would not be too high.

Is 70 million pounds expensive? Let's compare horizontally: Elliott Anderson 116 million pounds, Matheus Fernandes 85 million pounds.

Tchouaméni is 26 years old, his contract runs until 2028, and the transfer fee would not be as outrageous as for English domestic players. This price for a French international defensive midfielder in his prime, who has proven himself on top stages like the World Cup and Champions League, is quite reasonable in today's market. Let's wait and see.