Real Madrid's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is viewed as a suitable replacement for Casemiro. Photo: Getty
Real Madrid's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is viewed as a suitable replacement for Casemiro. Photo: Getty
Manchester City's Rodri is a Ballon d'Or winner
Manchester City's Rodri is a Ballon d'Or winner
Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga
Real Madrid's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is viewed as a suitable replacement for Casemiro. Photo: Getty
thumbnail: Real Madrid's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is viewed as a suitable replacement for Casemiro. Photo: Getty
James Ducker
thumbnail: Manchester City's Rodri is a Ballon d'Or winner
thumbnail: Manchester City's Rodri is a Ballon d'Or winner
thumbnail: Eduardo Camavinga
thumbnail: Eduardo Camavinga
Manchester United are keeping a close eye on Aurelien Tchouameni’s situation at Real Madrid.
The France midfielder features prominently on a shortlist of candidates to replace Casemiro as United seek a new top-class No 6 this summer.
Tchouameni (26) is entering his prime years and will be key for France at the upcoming World Cup.
Any move for Tchouameni – who is contracted until 2028 – could hinge on Real signing a new midfielder this summer and their need to sell to finance that deal. Florentino Perez, the club’s president, is known to admire Rodri, the Madrid-born Manchester City star who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Rodri is out of contract at the end of next season and City have offered him a new deal, but if Real formalise their interest in the 29-year-old, it could open the door for United to move for Tchouameni. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez has also been fluttering his eyelashes in Real’s direction.
Manchester City's Rodri is a Ballon d'Or winner
Manchester City's Rodri is a Ballon d'Or winner
Reports in Spain suggest Real are also willing to listen to offers for Tchouameni’s club and international teammate, Eduardo Camavinga, as an alternative route to raise funds.
City are the current frontrunners to sign another of United’s leading midfield targets, Elliot Anderson. Nottingham Forest are thought to want at least £100m for the England midfielder and their prospects of getting that will be boosted if they avoid relegation. United rate Anderson highly, but such a fee would be an obstacle.
United want to sign at least two midfielders this summer, with Casemiro leaving at the end of the season and the club on course to qualify for the Champions League. They could even look to bring in a third should Manuel Ugarte leave. The Uruguay midfielder has struggled since his £50.5m move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 and is known to want regular football.
Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga
Sandro Tonali, the Newcastle midfielder, was high on their midfield shortlist but the chances of a move are believed to be receding as they assess other options.
United’s priority this summer is to revamp their midfield, but they are keen to ensure that any new arrivals complement what they already have in the squad and that they get their combinations right.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is another who has been heavily scouted but is considered too similar to Kobbie Mainoo to be a natural partner in the deeper midfield positions. Mainoo is expected to sign a new contract with United.
Michael Carrick’s side will guarantee Champions League qualification if they take six points from their final five games following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Chelsea.