Man City and Tottenham have both made significant progress on deals to sign midfielders in the past week, with Manchester United consequently missing out on primary targets.
Manchester United have yet to complete a transfer this summer, although a deal has been agreed with Serie A outfit Atalanta for Brazilian midfielder Ederson.
The Reds are expected to add more midfielders to the squad, as well as Ederson. However, two primary targets are on the verge of completing deals at other Premier League clubs, while another option linked to Old Trafford is closing in on a move.
Depending on who you ask, many United fans can fully understand why the club walked away from deals for Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.
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Man Utd’s search for value in the transfer market
Man City shelled out a British record £116m for Anderson.
Meanwhile, Tottenham are spending £85m to sign Fernandes and a further £100m for Tonali.
If £85m-£116m is the new baseline for a decent Premier League midfielder, “value” as we knew it is dead, as Sir Alex Ferguson warned for many years before his retirement in 2013.
United have been linked with all three players as they plan to revamp the midfield following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s long-term knee injury.
While walking away was the right thing for United to do with all three players mentioned above, the Reds will need to realise which players are worth biting the bullet for, in terms of outbidding other clubs.
There has been a consistent stance from United this season, too. They want to avoid bidding wars for their targets.
The question is, who should United make an exception for in the transfer market? Is there a player – maybe playing at the 2026 World Cup – that they are waiting on to open negotiations after the tournament?
Aurelien Tchouameni is a player United could – and should – bite the bullet on. This is a player who warrants a world-class price because he is a proven elite player.
After all, Tchouameni is a World Cup and Champions League winner. Anderson, Fernandes and Tonali are nothing more than upper-mid-table talent as things stand.
The Real Madrid midfielder isn’t the only alternative target being linked to United. There is also Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Tottenham are closing in on a deal for Sandro Tonali after agreeing to pay £85m for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes
- Manchester United were linked with both midfielders
- Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni is another United target
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Knock-on effects of deals for Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali
It’s all well and good saying United can jump onto the next target, but many of them are playing in the Premier League, and there is a good chance other clubs will demand big fees for their most prized assets.
Bournemouth will look at the fees involved in deals for the trio and feel they can get similar money for Scott.
It will be intriguing to see how United operate in the transfer window for the rest of the summer.
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