Manchester United renew interest in Real Madrid midfielder

By Ngozi Eze — 23 July 2026 — 4 min read

Manchester United have reportedly made another approach for Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni during the current summer transfer window. This renewed interest comes after an initial attempt to sign the player was unsuccessful.

The Old Trafford club is actively seeking a specialist defensive midfielder to fill the void left by Casemiro, who has since moved to Inter Miami in the United States. Tchouaméni’s profile is said to align with United‘s requirements, offering a young player capable of anchoring the midfield and providing team balance.

Tchouaméni’s Situation at Real Madrid

Reports from “The Sun” indicate that Tchouaméni was initially expected to remain at Real Madrid, following previous approaches last winter and at the beginning of the current summer window. He was even reportedly close to signing a contract extension with the Spanish giants.

However, rumours linking Tchouaméni with Manchester United have persisted, despite claims that he had agreed to a new deal with Madrid until 2031. Real Madrid has not yet formally announced any new deal for the France international defensive midfielder.

New Real Madrid manager José Mourinho is reportedly keen on retaining Tchouaméni for the 2026-2027 season. This suggests that securing the midfielder’s transfer would be a challenging task for Manchester United.

According to one report, Real Madrid might be willing to sell Tchouaméni to Manchester United this summer. This development would be surprising, given the previous reports of a new contract agreement and the fact that Tchouaméni is currently the only pure senior defensive midfielder in Madrid‘s squad.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano had previously stated that Tchouaméni was considered United‘s “dream midfielder” internally, seen as the perfect successor to Casemiro due to his leadership qualities and elite status as an international defensive midfielder.

Romano also indicated that Mourinho was actively pushing to keep Tchouaméni at Real Madrid, leading to the understanding that the player would remain with the club and sign a new contract. However, “The Sun” has since reported that Real Madrid are prepared to sell Tchouaméni for the right fee, despite Mourinho‘s initial plans to keep him.

United’s Midfield Search and Other Targets

Manchester United are in the market for a third midfield signing this transfer window. The club has been assessing various potential targets after completing deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

While Santos and Tielemans are more attack-oriented, Tchouaméni is a natural defensive midfielder, fitting United‘s specific need for a player to anchor the midfield. The club believes the acquisitions of Santos and Tielemans provide them with time to thoroughly evaluate the market.

This extended evaluation period also allows for more clarity regarding Tchouaméni’s situation at Real Madrid. Madrid‘s reported interest in signing Rodri from Manchester City could potentially lead to either Tchouaméni or Eduardo Camavinga being made available for transfer.

United has reportedly conducted background checks on Tchouaméni several months ago and maintains interest in a deal if he becomes available. The club is reportedly more inclined to sign Tchouaméni, who is 26, over Camavinga.

However, with Manchester City reportedly unwilling to sell Rodri, the uncertainty surrounding Real Madrid‘s midfield situation could extend into August and closer to the start of the new season.

Other midfielders under consideration by Manchester United include Manu Kone, who impressed during the World Cup. United has not yet committed to a primary target for their third midfield signing and has not initiated talks with Roma regarding Kone. His injury record is a factor being considered.

Fulham‘s 28-year-old Norwegian international Sander Berge also remains an option. Additionally, United could revisit their interest in Carlos Baleba, who was a leading target previously but had a reported £100 million price tag from Brighton. United is not expected to pay such a fee this summer and has not been in contact with Brighton during the current window, though they remain admirers of the Cameroon international.

The fee could also be an obstacle in any attempt to sign Alex Scott. Chelsea reportedly had a £64 million bid for the 22-year-old rejected by Bournemouth, and United is reluctant to engage in a bidding war for any of their targets this summer.

The club’s search for a specialist defensive midfielder continues, with Tchouaméni remaining a key option as the transfer window progresses.

Source: goal.com