Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni features prominently on Manchester United’s shortlist of potential Casemiro replacements.
The Brazil international will depart the Red Devils on a free transfer this summer after it was decided not to renew his expiring contract. An automatic extension could have been triggered based on appearances, but Casemiro agreed to waive this right.
The 34-year-old, who has remained an important part of the Man Utd team despite his age, will be able to freely choose his next club. There is no shortage of interest in the Selecao captain, with sides in Major League Soccer, Brazil, Portugal and Saudi Arabia chasing his signature.
For Man Utd, Casemiro’s departure means freeing up a hefty salary. At the same time, though, a replacement will have to be sourced. Consequently, the Old Trafford club are planning to sign at least two new midfielders this summer.
Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson are some of the names most persistently associated with a move, but Man Utd could also once more look to sign a Real Madrid midfielder.
Man Utd want Tchouameni
The Telegraph reports that Man Utd have earmarked Los Blancos star Aurelien Tchouameni as a potential replacement for Casemiro, who was himself signed from the Spanish giants in 2022.
Tchouameni arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu as the heir-apparent to the Brazilian. It cost Real Madrid €80 million to sign the France international from AS Monaco, but they recouped most of that via the €70m sale of Casemiro.
The 26-year-old, though, has struggled to match the impact of his predecessor. Tchouameni has been solid, but he hasn’t quite performed at the world-leading level expected of a Real Madrid star. Injury issues and being played out of position have contributed to this, of course.
The report states that Tchouameni features prominently on Man Utd’s shortlist. However, whether he will actually be available could depend on Real Madrid’s success in the market.
The LaLiga giants are showing a strong interest in Man City midfielder Rodri, who is currently in contract talks with his club. If the Spaniard opts against extending his deal at the Etihad, Real Madrid will feel emboldened to make a move.
Man City, though, have made it clear that they will not sell Rodri on the cheap, even with just a year left to run on his contract. This means that Real Madrid will have to raise funds for a deal via sales.
The same logic applies to Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who has been flirting with a move to Los Blancos. He, too, would be very expensive, and a move would necessitate a big-money sale beforehand.
Tchouameni could be sacrificed, though Real Madrid are also open to offers for compatriot Eduardo Camavinga. Man Utd could look to exploit this. Tchouameni currently has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €68.4m.
Football transfer news headlines today
Transfer Rumours: Martinelli talks confirmed as Man Utd target €70m attacker
Jurgen Klopp’s next job announced
Yan Diomande to Liverpool: The good and bad news as RB Leipzig star matches Haaland
Liam Rosenior edges closer to sack as Chelsea go ‘all out’ for shock replacement
The FootballTransfers app
Check out FootballTransfers’ new app for all of football’s big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.
The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:
•Google Play
•App Store
