Manchester United’s priority this summer is to revamp their midfield, and they have received a boost in their pursuit of one Real Madrid star
Casemiro
Casemiro(Image: (Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images))
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Real Madrid are open to letting Aurelien Tchouameni leave the club as Manchester United continue to be linked with a move for the France international. United’s priority this summer is to revamp their midfield, especially after Casemiro departed the club following the expiry of his contract.
And their hopes of signing Tchouameni have received a boost with Real, according to Gianluigi Longari of SportItalia, open to letting the 26-year-old leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer. Although the report does also claim that the midfielder would like to remain with the La Liga giants.
The last midfielder to move to Old Trafford from Real was Casemiro, who went on to win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his time with the club. It also emerged over the weekend that new Real boss Jose Mourinho has identified Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez as his main midfield target. However, for a deal to be completed, Tchouameni could be sold to raise funds and make room to sign the Argentine.
Asked about Tchouameni moving to Old Trafford, former United midfielder Nicky Butt told Paddy Power last month: "I wouldn't have any doubts bringing him in because of the fight.
"Unless someone really tells me something really bad that happened prior to the fight, it wouldn't change my mind. I think it happens in every changing room.
"It's certainly happened in the ones that I was in. I think there's a lot of testosterone floating about a lot of egos floating around in changing rooms. Something gets said and it kicks off.
"It's not the ideal thing that you want in a team, but I wouldn't certainly wouldn't be going around thinking, ‘I wouldn't be going near him or touching him’, unless it comes out that he's done something that's really out of order.
Aurelien Tchouameni before France's World Cup win over Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium
Aurelien Tchouameni before France's World Cup win over Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium(Image: (Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images))
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"He’s still my main target for midfield. I think he's powerful, aggressive, everything that Man United need in a midfielder."
In terms of other midfield targets, United have stepped back from the race to sign Elliot Anderson after Manchester City made a bid worth more than £120million for the 23-year-old. Old Trafford chiefs are unwilling to pay that kind of fee for the England international.
United are also interested in signing Mateus Fernandes, who is set to leave West Ham United this summer after their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship. While Ederson confirmed over the weekend that his move to United is 'almost all sorted'.
The Reds agreed a deal with Atalanta earlier this month to sign the midfielder, who looks set to become the first signing of the Michael Carrick era at Old Trafford. United are set to pay an initial €40.5million (£35m), plus €4.5m (£3.8m) in add-ons for the 26-year-old.