Manchester United have reportedly made it clear to Aurelien Tchouameni’s camp that he would need to accept a different salary to join the club from Real Madrid.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that United admire the France midfielder, but the financial side of any deal remains difficult.
Tchouameni’s current Real Madrid salary is viewed as an issue, with United not prepared to match the same terms if a move becomes possible.
There is another major obstacle. United have not yet received the green light from Real Madrid to begin negotiations.
That keeps the deal at interest stage for now. Real Madrid still see Tchouameni as an important player, and any sale would need a major shift from the Spanish club.
United Interest Still Faces Two Problems
United’s interest makes sense from a football perspective.
Tchouameni would give Michael Carrick a powerful defensive midfielder with Champions League experience, physical presence and the ability to play at centre-back when required.
But this is not a simple transfer chase. United need the player’s camp to accept a lower financial package, and they also need Real Madrid to open the door.
talkSPORT has reported that Tchouameni is valued at more than £70m, while other reports in Spain have suggested Real Madrid would want more than €100m.
For United, that creates a difficult balance. They clearly admire the player, but they cannot allow another huge salary to stretch the wage structure.
The next step has to come from Madrid. Until United receive permission to negotiate, Tchouameni remains a dream target rather than an active deal.
