Manchester United renew interest in Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni

By Arjun Nair / 24.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester United’s Midfield Pursuit

Manchester United have reportedly made a renewed approach for Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni during the current transfer window. This comes after previous attempts to secure the 26-year-old France defensive midfielder were unsuccessful. Real Madrid is understood to be open to selling Tchouaméni to Manchester United.

The pursuit of a defensive midfielder is a priority for United, particularly after Casemiro’s departure to Inter Miami in the United States. Tchouaméni’s profile is seen as a suitable fit for the club’s requirements, offering a young player capable of anchoring the midfield and providing balance to the team. While new arrivals André Santos and Youri Tielemans are more attack-oriented, Tchouaméni is described as a natural defensive midfielder.

Despite the renewed interest, securing Tchouaméni may prove challenging. Reports indicate that José Mourinho is counting on the French international for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. United had previously been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Tchouaméni last winter and at the beginning of the current summer window, with the player reportedly close to extending his contract at Real Madrid.

Other Midfield and Defensive Targets

Beyond Tchouaméni, Manchester United are also considering other options to bolster their midfield. These include AS Roma and France midfielder Manu Kone, who is 25 years old, and Brighton’s 22-year-old Cameroon international Carlos Baleba. Additionally, Bournemouth’s 27-year-old United States midfielder Tyler Adams, valued at approximately £35m, is another potential target for Michael Carrick’s side.

In terms of defensive reinforcements, Arsenal is reportedly targeting former Manchester City defender John Stones, 32, and Aston Villa’s 28-year-old Ezri Konsa. These moves come after an injury to France defender William Saliba, 25. Arsenal and Manchester City are also among the clubs vying for Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, a player for whom Liverpool previously had a £69m bid rejected.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is considered the favourite to sign 18-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina attacking midfielder Kerim Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen. Chelsea has also reportedly agreed to a deal to sign 15-year-old American winger Benji Flowers from Major League Soccer side FC Dallas, with the transfer set to be completed when he turns 18. Bayer Leverkusen, managed by Xabi Alonso, is also in discussions with Crystal Palace regarding the sale of 28-year-old French centre-back Axel Disasi.

Transfer Movements Across the League

Several other clubs are active in the transfer market. Liverpool and England Under-20 defender Amara Nallo, 19, is expected to join Finnish club HJK Helsinki on a season-long loan. Celtic and Japan striker Daizen Maeda, 28, is scheduled for a medical on Friday as part of his £10m move to Ipswich Town.

Leeds United’s English winger Jack Harrison, 29, is reportedly nearing a move to MLS side New England Revolution. Everton has shown interest in Celtic’s Alistair Johnston, 27, who impressed for Canada at the World Cup and is seen as a suitable replacement at right-back following Republic of Ireland defender Seamus Coleman’s departure. Aston Villa is also interested in signing 25-year-old Everton and England midfielder James Garner this summer.

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca reportedly remains keen on acquiring Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 25, and France full-back Malo Gusto, 23, both from his former club Chelsea. These various movements highlight the ongoing activity in the transfer window as clubs look to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.

Source: bbc.com