Manchester United are preparing for their return to the Champions League stage next season, and a strong transfer window will be imperative to their progress.
The Red Devils have made huge strides since hitting rock bottom with a 15th-place finish in the Premier League less than 18 months ago.
Last season, under Michael Carrick, they secured a third-place finish and a return to European football’s biggest stage.
So far, United have secured deals for Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, alongside the free-transfer signing of goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but there is still more than a month left in the transfer window to strengthen the squad further.
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Despite the arrivals of Tielemans and Santos, there is still room for the Red Devils to add a defensive midfielder to their new-look midfield.
It has been widely reported for some time that the club’s dream target is Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni, although Los Blancos were believed to have no intention of parting ways with the Frenchman.
Now, transfer journalist Ben Jacobs has reignited speculation over the move while speaking to The United Stand, revealing:
“There’s a verbal agreement in place.”
“If that deal doesn’t come to fruition, the price is the key thing – not his wage.”
“It would be possible to reach an agreement with Tchouameni, but it’s about what type of fee Real Madrid would be looking for!”
“In theory, if the door opened even a tiny bit, and the price was right, Man Utd would move.”
“In theory, Tchouameni is the leading target.”
“In practice, we can’t say that they’re working on it because we have to respect the fact that there’s verbal terms on a new deal and at any moment the door could shut if Real Madrid choose to announce it.”
It has been reported that the La Liga giants have slapped a £68m price tag on their French midfielder this summer in an effort to fund a potential move for Manchester City’s Rodri.
Should Man United sign Aurelien Tchouameni?
There is no doubt that Tchouameni would be an incredible signing for United this summer, as his Champions League experience and winning mentality would be highly valuable both in the dressing room and on the pitch.
The 26-year-old France international boasts an impressive CV thanks to his contributions at Real Madrid and would be a huge asset to Carrick in the centre of the pitch next season.
Over the last decade, United have struggled to maintain their elite status in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
While the opportunity to continue their resurgence looks promising after six months of consistency under Carrick, the real test begins this season.
Bringing in a player of Tchouameni’s calibre would be a statement to the club’s commitment to returning to the very top of European football.
His ability to break up play, control possession and dictate the tempo of the game would also provide United with a midfielder that can help them to compete consistently across multiple competitions.
All things considered, Tchouameni could be the missing piece of the midfield puzzle at Old Trafford and a vital component in helping secure a bright future for the club.
