Real Madrid soften stance on Tchouameni as Man United reignite interest in World Cup star

Manchester United’s summer midfield rebuild has received a potential boost after Real Madrid softened their stance on Aurélien Tchouameni, with Athletic editor Dean Jones reporting the Spanish club are now ‘opening up’ to the possibility of selling the 26-year-old Frenchman.

United have tracked Tchouameni for much of the transfer window, though no formal bid has yet been submitted. Madrid had previously been reluctant to part with the midfielder, but Jones — writing for FlashScore — indicates that position has shifted. Should Madrid inform Tchouameni he is free to leave, the player is said to be willing to make the move to Old Trafford. The Frenchman has been valued at around £85 million.

The need for midfield reinforcements at United has become increasingly urgent. The departure of Casemiro and a long-term injury to Manuel Ugarte have left Michael Carrick’s side short of options in the centre of the pitch, while a previous target, Mateus Fernandes, opted to join Tottenham in an £85 million deal.

United’s transfer activity is not limited to Tchouameni. German outlet BILD reports that the club have held renewed contact with the representatives of Borussia Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson. The 28-year-old Norwegian is currently featuring at the World Cup, where Norway are set to face England in the quarter-finals. His performances in North America have reportedly strengthened United’s interest in a player they have monitored for some time.

Ryerson has been a consistent presence for Dortmund since joining in 2023, and with United returning to the Champions League this season, Carrick is understood to be keen on bolstering both the depth and quality of his squad across multiple positions.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have had an active summer of their own, bringing in Ibrahima Konaté, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, and Denzel Dumfries — a flurry of arrivals that may be contributing to the club’s reassessment of their current squad needs, including Tchouameni’s place within it.