Manchester United pursuing Camavinga amid Real Madrid’s potential sale decision

By Arjun Nair / 23.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester United’s Midfield Pursuit

Manchester United are reportedly tracking Real Madrid midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni as they seek to strengthen their midfield. The club is looking for a third midfielder but is cautious about overspending, regardless of a player’s influence.

According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United held discussions with Camavinga’s agents to understand his situation. Similar conversations also took place with the agents of AS Roma midfielder Manu Koné. These approaches suggest United’s active search for a defensive midfielder.

Despite United’s interest, Camavinga has expressed a desire to remain at Real Madrid. He aims to compete for his place and relaunch his career under manager José Mourinho, believing he can earn the manager’s trust. This stance has been consistent, with Camavinga reportedly wanting to stay and play for Real Madrid in the upcoming season.

Real Madrid’s Stance and Potential Transfer

While Camavinga wishes to stay, Real Madrid does not consider him an untouchable member of their squad. Reports indicate that Real Madrid could be open to selling Camavinga to create space for Rodri in their team. This possibility arises after Real Madrid signed Bernardo Silva and could potentially reunite him with his former Manchester City teammate Rodri, reportedly at José Mourinho’s request.

If Real Madrid decides to offload Camavinga, the situation could change significantly. Should his exit become certain, the Premier League could emerge as a potential destination, with Manchester United possibly becoming a frontrunner for his signature. Real Madrid is reportedly open to selling Camavinga for a fee between €50-60m.

However, Real Madrid is not expected to make a decision on Camavinga’s future until closer to the transfer deadline. This suggests a period of uncertainty regarding the French international’s immediate future at the club.

Alternative Midfield Targets for United

Beyond Camavinga, Manchester United has explored other midfield options. They have reportedly cut their midfield shortlist to include Camavinga, Sander Berge, and Manu Koné after previous attempts to sign Aurélien Tchouaméni and Alex Scott did not materialize.

Tchouaméni was initially a top target for United. However, reports conflict regarding his availability; some claim Real Madrid might sell him, while others, including Fabrizio Romano, state that Madrid has rejected United’s approaches, intending to retain him by finalizing a new contract. Tchouaméni is 26 years old.

United also approached Bournemouth for Alex Scott, receiving encouragement when he rejected a new deal from his club. Despite this, Bournemouth maintains that Scott is not for sale this summer. These developments have led to Camavinga, Berge, and Koné becoming more prominent targets for Michael Carrick’s side.

Manchester United holds a long-term interest in Berge, having monitored his performances at both Sheffield United and Burnley. The Norwegian midfielder is reportedly available for £40m. For Manu Koné, L’Equipe reported that United chiefs have contacted Roma, and an update from Corriere dello Sport indicates that the Red Devils have agreed personal terms with Koné. United is reportedly preparing an opening bid of €50m/£42m for Koné, while Roma is seeking €60m/£51m.

So far this summer, Manchester United has already bolstered its midfield with the additions of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, spending a combined £85m on the pair.

Source: theweek.in