\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t6<\/i><\/p>\n
Manchester United have missed out on yet another key target in midfield as Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni is set to sign a new deal with Real Madrid, according to a reliable French journalist.<\/p>\n
While Elliot Anderson was the leading candidate to replace Casemiro this summer, INEOS were forced to pivot towards Matheus Fernandes after being priced out of the race by Manchester City. The fact that Nottingham Forest were able to extract \u00a3116 million out of the Citizens gave some validation to this decision, even if it remains a bitter blow given what a talent Anderson is.<\/p>\n
However, it was d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu for United\u2019s hierarchy when Tottenham Hotspur then repeated the same trick for Fernandes, hijacking a deal with a club-record \u00a385 million offer to West Ham United.<\/p>\n
This has left the Red Devils scrambling for alternatives, leading to a hastily agreed \u00a350 million deal with Chelsea to sign Andrey Santos. The 22-year-old Brazilian is a long-term target, however, with inside sources at Old Trafford believing the price represents excellent value.<\/p>\n
A \u00a339 million agreement with Atalanta for their 26-year-old Brazil international, Ederson, was struck last month, with confirmation expected to come later this week after a medical. But throughout all these twists and turns in the drive to fix Michael Carrick\u2019s stalling engine room, Tchouam\u00e9ni has remained the \u201cperfect signing\u201d in United\u2019s mind, as Fabrizio Romano reveals.<\/p>\n
There is understood to have been quiet optimism that a bombshell deal could be struck for the France international, given Real Madrid are intent on adding more creativity and control to their midfield at the request of Jos\u00e9 Mourinho. To fund the pursuit of a high-profile target like Rodri or Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez, an existing option would need to be sold \u2013 with Tchouam\u00e9ni the most lucrative potential casualty by far.<\/p>\n
United have held exploratory talks with the 26-year-old\u2019s camp, believing he would be open to a switch to M16 if Madrid made it clear he had no future at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u. This led to reports indicating a contract offer had been tabled, with a potentially record-breaking offer being prepared.<\/p>\n
This faint sense of hope has now been firmly extinguished, however, with RMC Sport reporter Fabrice Hawkins revealing Tchouam\u00e9ni is \u201cset to extend\u201d his contract in the Spanish capital. <\/p>\n
\n