Manchester United are poised to pivot to European giants to complete their summer rebuild, weighing a bold move for Real Madrid’s anchor alongside three alternative targets to bolster the engine room.
Manchester United's midfield situation
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Manchester United looked set for a busy summer after quickly completing deals for Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, moves that significantly strengthened a midfield lacking depth. Since those early arrivals, however, the club's transfer activity has slowed as attention turns to the next stage of the rebuild.
Despite the quieter period, United are still expected to sign another midfielder before the window closes. AS Roma's Manu Koné is understood to be the club's preferred target, with the Frenchman viewed as the final piece in a refreshed midfield following the arrivals of Tielemans and Santos.
The club have also been working to raise funds through player departures, although Rasmus Højlund remains the only major sale. Napoli's qualification for the Champions League triggered their £38 million obligation to buy the striker at the end of his loan spell, adding to the £5.1 million fee United had already received.
Elsewhere, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia left Old Trafford following the expiry of their contracts, while Casemiro confirmed his move to MLS side Inter Miami towards the end of last season. Academy defender Tyler Fredricson has also departed, joining fellow INEOS-owned club Lausanne-Sport for an undisclosed fee. The agreement reportedly includes both a significant sell-on clause and a buyback option, allowing United to retain an interest in the 21-year-old's long-term development.
As United continue to monitor the midfield market, talkSPORT has broken down the Reds' midfield targets, as the start of the Premier League season draws ever closer.
Aurélien Tchouaméni
After missing out on several marquee midfielders from the Premier League, Manchester United shifted its focus to the rest of the continent in search of the midfielder to complete its rebuild.
A surprise name linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier in the window was Real Madrid star Aurélien Tchouaméni, one of the best defensive midfielders in world football.
Despite the player pushing to stay in Madrid going into next season and signing a new extension, reports linking the Frenchman with a move haven't gone away, especially after the Spanish giant's interest in Rodri emerged, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that Jose Mourinho wants to sell the 26-year-old, as he thinks a midfield pairing of Rodri and Tchouaméni wouldn't work.
In the summer of 2025, many were left wondering why United's midfield wasn't reinforced, with the need for depth already apparent. Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba was strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, but a £100 million valuation put an end to any potential deal.
Last season, however, the 22-year-old looked a shadow of the form he had shown the year prior. Despite this, the young midfielder was great for Cameroon at AFCON, showing he still has plenty of potential to become a world-class defensive midfielder.
With his value now reported to be around £70 million, it's clear that Baleba wants to join United, but that valuation is likely still too high for United to pursue.
As Marcus Rashford’s future remains uncertain, Fabrizio Romano clarifies United’s pursuit of Francisco Conceição while Michael Carrick weighs squad depth against high-profile summer transfer targets.roundtable.ioFabrizio Romano Reveals Man Utd's Stance On "Ideal" Michael Carrick Transfer
As Marcus Rashford’s future remains uncertain, Fabrizio Romano clarifies United’s pursuit of Francisco Conceição while Michael Carrick weighs squad depth against high-profile summer transfer targets.
If Real Madrid were to sign Rodri and also keep hold of Tchouaméni, it'd be hard to see where Eduardo Camavinga fits into Jose Mourinho's new-look Real Madrid side, which has already seen five new faces through the door.
Should Manchester City's Ballon d'Or- winning midfielder return to Spain, it would almost certainly mean the club would have to make a marquee sale this summer.
While a transfer for Vinicius Junior to Arsenal looks to be advancing as the weeks go on, a midfield departure looks more likely, and United could see Camavinga as the better option than Tchouameni, who, as reported by the Manchester Evening News, could cost as little as £42 million and be on lower wages than his French counterpart.
When you think of a Bournemouth midfielder who would be on the move this summer, the first name that would come to mind is Alex Scott, who has attracted interest from across the league this summer.
However, reports have indicated that United were "considering" a bid for Tyler Adams, who is seen as the cheaper option compared with other midfield targets.
The latest update, however, indicates that United are set to move away from Adams in favour of a more marquee midfield signing, with The Peoples Person reporting that United have seemingly given up on the 27-year-old, with both Chelsea and Newcastle United overtaking the Reds in the race for the USA star.
While United could come back to this deal later on in the window, with just three weeks to go until the start of the 2026/27 Premier League season, it's critical that Michael Carrick gets more signings through the door as soon as possible.