What Manchester United’s failure to sign Tchouameni means for ₦13bn-rated Super Eagles star

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Former Premier League champions Manchester United are targeting Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni this summer, Afrik-Foot reports.

​The Red Devils desperately need to bolster their midfield this summer to compete with their peers in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

​They have already lost Casemiro, who has called time on his stint in Europe. Manuel Ugarte is also expected to leave, although his recent long-term injury has made that unlikely. This has left them significantly short-staffed in the middle of the park.

ManU FC v Ipswich Town FC Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee 11 Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte 25 applauds the fans after the Manchester United FC v Ipswich Town FC English Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, United Kingdom on 26 February 2025.
Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, and Casemiro. Copyright: xIMAGO/EveryxSecondxMediax

​Two of the top midfielders on Manchester United’s radar are Carlos Baleba and Real Madrid’s Tchouameni. But getting a deal done has been a major problem.

​The Red Devils have been in negotiations with the French star over a transfer in recent weeks, but they have not made much progress. According to Madrid Zone, the major problem is his salary.

​Tchouameni currently earns €240k gross weekly, and Manchester United are unwilling to offer him this, as it would make him the second-highest earner at the club, behind only Bruno Fernandes. As a result, the former Premier League champions are now looking at other options.

​Is Wilfred Ndidi The Perfect Man For Manchester United?

​With the Red Devils struggling to land 26-year-old Tchouameni, they might have to look elsewhere soon.

Wilfred Ndidi of Besiktas JK controls the ball during the Trendyol Super Lig match between Besiktas JK and Kasimpasa SK at Tupras Stadium on March 19, 2026
Wilfred Ndidi of Besiktas JK. Copyright: ImagoxBSRxAgencyx

​Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi might just be their man. They have been consistently linked with the 29-year-old Nigerian for the last one year, but they have not made a solid move yet.

​Ndidi has a lot of experience playing in England, having stayed at Leicester City for just over eight years, and he could be quite useful on the domestic scene.

​Signing him would also be a significantly cheaper deal. Ndidi is valued at €8 million (₦13 billion), and he currently earns €60k gross weekly, so the deal could be wrapped up within a very short period.

​Just like Tchouameni, the Super Eagles skipper offers solidity, great work rate, and reliability. He still has two years of top football in him.

Wilfred Ndidi for Besiktas 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey
Wilfred Ndidi for Besiktas. Copyright: ImagoxBSRxAgencyx

​The Gent man would likely be open to the prospect of donning the Manchester United jersey, so it should not be difficult to negotiate a transfer.

​If the Tchouameni deal continues to stall, Ndidi might just be the man the Red Devils call upon.

<!-- Author Start -->Kelvin Omachonu<!-- Author End -->

Kelvin Omachonu

Sports Writer

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Kelvin Omachonu is a sports writer covering Nigeria, with 6 years in sports media and a Reuters Digital Journalism certification. A bettor for 7 years, he specialises in football and basketball odds and responsible gambling, and has used operators including Bet9ja, SportyBet, Betano and 1xBet.