Man Utd hit a big obstacle in chasing their ‘dream’ midfield player
Manchester United has hit a setback in their hunt for Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, according to reports.
Tchouameni is one of the players United are considering to replace Casemiro, who confirmed back in January that he will leave Old Trafford when his contract ends this June.
This summer, United want to bring in at least two new midfielders. Along with Brazil’s Ederson, who is close to a £35 million move from Atalanta, Tchouameni was seen as a top option. In fact, the 26-year-old French star is called a “dream midfield target” by Fabrizio Romano.
Last month, Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Manchester United are talking to several midfielders. They like Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson, though Manchester City are also interested. Mateus Fernandes is another big name English clubs are watching this summer. But Aurelien Tchouameni is probably the dream midfield target for Manchester United. They love him and see him as a possible new Casemiro.”
Romano also mentioned the deal would be “really difficult” because Tchouameni is important to Real Madrid—and it seems he was right.
With Jose Mourinho about to become Madrid’s new coach after Florentino Perez was re-elected president, Mourinho wants to keep Tchouameni for next season.
According to The Sun, sources in Madrid think United were just trying to show they’re serious by expressing interest in the French midfielder.
As said earlier, United want to sign at least two midfielders. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba is highly rated at Old Trafford and was linked with a move last summer.
Other midfield targets include Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes, and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.
So, what does Michael Carrick expect from his midfielders? “You need composure, calmness, and a positive attitude,” he said. “You also need to be strong enough to keep up with the fast transitions we want to play and help create excitement.”