Manchester United have got two clear priorities this summer.
Before anything, INEOS are looking to land their next permanent manager and one who only enhances the success that Michael Carrick has built in a matter of months.
Then, their attention is set to turn towards their midfield. With Casemiro officially leaving and Manuel Ugarte potentially joining him, the Red Devils have the task of rebuilding the heart of their side this summer.
INEOS did the same with their frontline 12 months ago, as Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all arrived. Now, a year later, they can enjoy similar success in the middle of the park.
How Tchouameni and Anderson could transform Man Utd
As ever, Man United aren’t short on ambition ahead of the summer transfer window. And why should they be? They’re on course to finish as high as third in the Premier League and have the opportunity to tick the second box on their squad rebuild, which is looking more promising by the week.
With that said, two impressive names have reportedly entered their radar in the form of Aurelien Tchouameni and Elliot Anderson. Both could be on the move this summer, with the former entering the final two years of his Real Madrid deal and the latter attracting attention from across the Premier League.
In terms of upgrades, both would be instant replacements for Ugarte and Casemiro, with Anderson particularly ready to take Old Trafford by storm.
|
League stats 25/26 |
Tchouameni |
Anderson |
|---|---|---|
|
Minutes |
2,314 |
3,044 |
|
Tackles |
60 |
95 |
|
Recoveries |
129 |
281 |
|
Chances created |
22 |
49 |
|
Duel success |
68.8% |
54.6% |
It would be quite fitting if another Real Madrid player arrived in place of Casemiro. Recent reports have claimed that Man United are completely focused on signing Tchouameni this summer in what would be a blockbuster move.
That would very much be the Casemiro problem solved. Then it’s all about upgrading Ugarte with a player of Anderson’s quality.
No midfielder in Europe has made more recoveries than the Nottingham Forest star this season and, unlike Ugarte, he is not just a one-dimensional, workhorse midfielder. The England international has also created 49 chances throughout the current campaign, proving to be the complete package.
Like Tchouameni, he won’t come cheap and may even cost more than £100m. It will be a costly summer for Man United, who perhaps sold their real solution two years ago.
Man United reject is now like Tchouameni
It wasn’t so long ago that Real Madrid made Man United regret the sale of Alvaro Carreras.
Whilst they search for a long-term heir to Luke Shaw, their former academy graduate is thriving at one of the biggest clubs in Europe. That should have been a lesson learned, but the emergence of Maxi Oyedele has dealt the Red Devils another regret.
Since leaving Old Trafford for just £500k in 2024, Oyedele has featured for Legia Warsaw and impressed enough to earn a move to Starsbourg, where the path to Chelsea could create a frustrating reunion for Man United.
|
Oyedele per 90 minutes in 25/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
312 |
|
Tackles |
0.87 |
|
Recoveries |
4.33 |
|
Chances created |
0.29 |
|
Duel success |
50% |
Although the 21-year-old is still not the complete package, he has shown plenty of potential in France. So far this season, he has averaged over four recoveries per game. That’s just one fewer than Ugarte and Tchouameni.
Add on the fact that his duel success is only 4% worse than Anderson’s, and the talent that Man United allowed to leave two years ago becomes clear. Indeed, he certainly looks like something of a hybrid between two of their main targets.
The price that INEOS could have to pay two years later is the arrival of two big-money midfielders this summer. They could have to shell out almost £200m to solve Man United’s biggest problem when their best solution was waiting in the reserves all along.
INEOS struck gold on Man Utd star who’s worth even more than Tchouameni
It’s all eyes on the summer, amid links to the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni and Carlos Baleba.