Real Madrid's Tchouameni available as United pursue Fernandes and Ederson this summer

Manchester United are shaping up for a significant midfield overhaul this summer, with Atalanta’s Ederson all but confirmed as their first arrival and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes emerging as a primary second target — though a surprise route to Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouameni has now presented itself.

United have agreed a £35m plus add-ons deal for Brazil international Ederson, 26, with the transfer temporarily stalled by his late call-up to the World Cup. The club are understood to be unconcerned by the delay, expecting him to complete his move once Brazil’s tournament concludes.

With one midfielder close to secured, United’s attention shifted to Fernandes. West Ham’s relegation to the Championship has left the club under significant financial pressure — they have already acknowledged the need to sell players to avoid Financial Fair Play sanctions — and the 21-year-old is keen to remain in the Premier League. That combination gives United confidence a deal can be struck, though Tottenham are also credited with interest, complicating negotiations.

The more dramatic development concerns Tchouameni. Reports suggest Real Madrid, under newly appointed manager José Mourinho, are now open to selling the France international this summer following a period of squad upheaval at the Bernabéu. That represents a notable shift: Real had previously been expected to retain the 26-year-old despite a reported internal disagreement earlier in the year.

Tchouameni’s CV is formidable. He has won the Champions League, La Liga, the Club World Cup, the Copa del Rey and two UEFA Super Cups, and has been a consistent presence throughout Real’s recent dominance. For a United squad that lacks players with that calibre of winning experience, the appeal is obvious.

Despite the allure of Tchouameni, the Fernandes pursuit is considered to make more practical sense for United. The West Ham midfielder is five years younger, has two full Premier League seasons behind him, and would likely command a considerably lower fee than a player of Tchouameni’s stature and contract situation at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

United had also looked at Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, but a fee in the region of the £120m Manchester City were reported to have offered was always beyond what Ineos would sanction. The club’s midfield recruitment this window is therefore likely to hinge on how the Fernandes situation develops — and whether the Tchouameni opportunity proves realistic or remains a distant possibility.