Man United target Felix Nmecha in £61m move as Mourinho's Real Madrid rival for Germany midfielder

Manchester United have identified Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha as a transfer target, with German reports valuing the 25-year-old at around £61m — though the club faces competition from Real Madrid, where new manager José Mourinho is reportedly an admirer.

Nmecha caught the eye at the 2026 World Cup after narrowly missing a hat-trick in Germany’s 7-1 demolition of Curacao, a performance that appears to have accelerated United’s interest. Manager Michael Carrick has made midfield reinforcement a clear priority in his first summer in charge, and Nmecha fits the profile of the box-to-box operator the club has been tracking since at least February.

The German international is no stranger to Manchester. He came through the academy at Manchester City before departing for Wolfsburg in 2021 alongside his older brother Lukas. Felix moved on to Dortmund two years later, while Lukas eventually joined Leeds, where he played a key role in the club’s Premier League survival last season. That family connection to the city could add an extra pull toward a move.

At £61m, Nmecha’s reported asking price sits comfortably below some of United’s other rumoured targets, which the Manchester Evening News has described as part of a broader £130m double swoop. The fee is said to fall within the club’s current budget, making the deal financially viable if a deal can be struck with Dortmund.

The main obstacle appears to be Mourinho. The former United boss, now at the helm of Real Madrid, is said to have made Nmecha a priority target, setting up a potential bidding war between his old club and one of the world’s biggest. Whether sentiment or finances ultimately tip the balance remains to be seen, but United will need to move quickly if they are to win the race.