Ben Jacobs says Aurélien Tchouaméni is still Manchester United's leading midfield target, but the move depends on Real Madrid's contract situation and the fee they would want. Jacobs says there is a verbal agreement in place on a new deal, although it has not been finalised. His other point is just as clear: the price is the key issue, not the wage.
Real Madrid's contract position
Jacobs did not dress this up as a simple chase. He said, "There's a verbal agreement in place" and added, "If that deal doesn't come to fruition, the price is the key thing – not his wage." He also said, "In theory, Tchouameni is the leading target." That is the basic shape of it. United want the player, but the path only opens if Madrid fail to turn the agreement into a signed contract.
Madrid's own position makes the pursuit harder. They finished 2nd in La Liga in 2025, which is not the kind of finishing place that usually forces a club to sell a key midfielder cheaply. United, by contrast, finished 3rd in the 2025 Premier League, so the need to keep chasing an elite central option is obvious enough.
United's midfield plan still has moving parts
The other thread here is that United have not locked themselves into one alternative. Fabrizio Romano said Manu Kone is a player United have under consideration and that they have spoken to his agents, but also said United have not yet reached out to Roma because they have not decided which defensive midfielder they want.
That leaves Tchouameni as the headline target, but not a deal that looks anywhere close to being done. The report around United's wider midfield search suggests they are keeping options live rather than making a hard commitment to one name. For now, the Frenchman stays at the top of the list, and Madrid's contract paperwork is still the main thing separating that from a real move.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
