Manchester United pursue Mateus Fernandes while considering Aurelien Tchouameni alternatives

New Manchester United signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) Manchester United are planning to make three more summer signings after completing a £35m deal for Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans. United unveiled Brazil international Andrey Santos as the club’s first summer signing in a £48m deal from Chelsea. Welsh goalkeeper Karl Darlow followed Santos to Old Trafford on a free transfer after ending his three-year spell at Leeds United. Manchester United’s flurry of activity continued on Tuesday as Tielemans joined from Premier League rivals Aston Villa. Exclusive analysis of England v Norway Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter. Sign up now. Two of United’s first three summer signings being midfielders comes as no surprise as Michael Carrick instructed his bosses to bolster his squad in that area of the pitch following Casemiro’s emotional departure. According to The Sun, Manchester United want a third midfielder to arrive through the doors after targeting Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali earlier in the summer. Anderson is set to join Manchester City in a stunning deal worth £116m, Fernandes has already signed for Tottenham and Tonali could now stay at Newcastle United given Bruno Guimaraes is being heavily linked with a move away from St James’ Park. Man Utd signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea (Picture: Getty) Manchester United are interested in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott but the Cherries are currently demanding £80m for the 22-year-old. Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba, both linked with the Red Devils, are valued at a similar amount by Crystal Palace and Brighton. United are now internally discussing a move for Roma and France midfielder Manu Kone, who is valued at around 60m euros (£51m) by the Serie A side. Roma and France star Manu Kone (Picture: Getty) Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Manchester United have reached out to Kone’s agents to discuss a possible move to Old Trafford after the World Cup. Kone, who was heavily linked with Arsenal earlier in the summer, featured in five of France’s seven World Cup games, including their semi-final defeat to Spain. As well as signing a third midfielder this summer, United are planning to bring in a new left-winger and another forward. Michael Carrick during Man Utd pre-season training (Picture: Getty) Marcus Rashford is set to return to Old Trafford after Barcelona opted not to sign him on a permanent deal, but United are now trying to offload the England World Cup star. United admire West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville, who is expected to be on the move following the Hammers’ relegation, and have been linked with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye. Carrick may also bring in a new forward to provide competition for Benjamin Sesko, who recovered from a slow start to last season to score 11 goals in the Premier League. Youri Tielemans reacts to Man Utd transfer Tielemans has joined Manchester United shortly after returning from Belgium’s World Cup campaign, where they reached the quarter-finals. ‘It’s hard to describe just how proud I am to join Man United,’ Tielemans said. ‘Signing for such a special club feels incredible, it is the culmination of years of dedication since I first fell in love with football. ‘I have had the privilege of experiencing success in the game and it has only increased my determination to achieve more. https://www.instagram.com/p/DayB2hPAhNG/?hl=en ‘The ambition from everyone at the club is extremely clear; we are all determined to push for the biggest trophies over the coming years.’ Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox added: ‘Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years. ‘He has all of the technical qualities, as well as the ambition and mentality, to thrive at Manchester United. New Man Utd back-up goalkeeper Karl Darlow (Picture: Getty) ‘Youri’s consistency is exceptional, and he will add further composure, creativity and leadership to our squad. ‘We are delighted to welcome a player of his influence and experience, both on the pitch and within the dressing room, as we continue to build a team ready to challenge for the biggest honours.’ Former Manchester United midfielders Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt are both delighted by the signing of Tielemans. Ex-Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt (Picture: Getty) ‘I think he’s a very, very good footballer,’ Butt said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘£35m for him is nothing, that’s a phenomenal signing. ‘So well done to the recruitment team because they’ve needed to get a rocket on haven’t they in the transfer market. ‘The bench at times last season was horrendous, we’re trying to build a squad, not just a starting line-up. ‘If we want to compete in all four competitions we have to build a squad. He’s pheneneomal at £35m.’ Scholes added: ‘Tielemans will bring great experience, he’s a really good player who knows the Premier League. He is a very, very good player and the fee is nothing, it’s very cheap. ‘But United might still need to get another midfielder. They might need another one in there. You need three players in that central midfield if you’re playing Champions League football so it’s still not enough.’ Manchester United finished third in the Premier League last season and begin their 2026-27 campaign on August 22 against newly-promoted Hull City. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

United could have a big decision to make (Picture: Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images) Manchester United are still considering whether to go through with the signing of Brazilian midfielder Ederson after his medical raised a ‘concern’. United want to sign up to three midfielders this summer as part of a major rebuild at Old Trafford. While they have missed out on top targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes who have joined Manchester City and Tottenham respectively, the club did move quickly to sign Ederson from Atalanta in June. A  deal worth an initial £35million plus £3.8m in add-ons was agreed with the Serie A side with the 27-year-old pausing talks with other interested clubs to focus solely on United. Exclusive analysis of England v Norway Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter. Sign up now. While a deal was agreed, the move was put on hold after Ederson was called up to Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad for the World Cup. After being initially left out of the 26-man squad, an injury for defender Wesley saw him called in as a replacement the week before the tournament began. Ederson underwent an initial medical check before travelling out to the US, one which ‘raised concerns’ according to the Daily Mail. A fee for Ederson was agreed back in June (Picture: Getty Images) The Brazilian is back in England undergoing the final stages of the medical process with the report adding United must now decide whether to push through the move or ‘pull the plug’ and look elsewhere. United are on the brink of signing another Brazilian in Andrey Santos with a £50m deal with Chelsea quickly agreed this week. He has agreed personal terms and completed his medical with the move now close to completion. Santos is not regarded as an alternative to Ederson with both players expected to join should the latter pass his final medical checks.    Santos has passed his medical (Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) United have been linked with other midfielders including Roma’s Manu Kone with Bournemouth star Alex Scott also still a target. United need bodies in midfield ahead of the new season with Casemiro’s departure leaving a huge void. Manuel Ugarte was another who looked set to move on but a knee injury suffered while playing for Uruguay at the World Cup halted those plans. His lengthy absence heightens United’s need for further reinforcements. While Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount can play in central midfield, Kobbie Mainoo is the club’s only natural option until new faces come through the door. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Manchester United are preparing a move for Aurelien Tchouameni (FIFA via Getty) Manchester United are ready to make a move to sign Aurelien Tchouameni if Real Madrid indicate that they are willing to sell the midfielder this summer. United are looking to sign another central midfielder after agreeing a £35 million deal with Atalanta to sign Ederson earlier this summer. Having missed out on Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, who have both joined Tottenham, United are now looking at alternative options to sign. Tchouameni is among the midfielders on United’s shortlist, however, there was no indication earlier this year that Madrid would be willing to sell the France international. Don't miss a World Cup moment Wow (Picture: Getty) What a rollercoaster this has been. Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter, featuring England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Sign up now. However, Madrid are now understood to be open to a major sale in midfield in order to finance the squad rebuild under Jose Mourinho. According to The Athletic, United continue to maintain their interest in Tchouameni and are willing to submit an offer if the 26-year-old is made available. Real Madrid are considering whether to sell Aurelien Tchouameni this summer (Getty) The report adds that United have held talks to find out Madrid’s stance on selling Tchouameni before the end of the summer transfer window. Tchouameni, who joined Madrid from Monaco in a deal worth €80m (£68.3m) plus €20m (£17m) in add-ons in 2022, still has two years remaining on his contact with the Spanish club. Meanwhile, United have also held talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign their Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos. Chelsea are understood to value Santos at £50m, a price which United are not prepared to meet. United also remain interested in Alex Scott but Bournemouth insist that the 22-year-old is not for sale. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Mateus Fernandes has joined Spurs in an £85m deal from West Ham (Shutterstock) Mateus Fernandes has named Bruno Fernandes as his idol despite deciding to join Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Manchester United. Fernandes had attracted plenty of interest this summer after an impressive season for West Ham as United competed to sign the midfielder alongside Spurs, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. The 21-year-old was understood to have made United his preferred destination, however, the club were refusing to meet West Ham’s valuation. That allowed Spurs to make their move and the club, who finished two points above the Premier League relegation zone last season, agreed an £85 million deal with West Ham after United said they would not match the offer. Don't miss a World Cup moment England's hero (Picture:Getty) What a rollercoaster this has been. Make sense of the drama with Metro's free daily newsletter, featuring England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Sign up now. But in his first set of interviews with Spurs, Fernandes gave a clear indication that he would have relished the prospect of linking up with United captain Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford. When asked to name his idol in a TikTok Q&A, Fernandes quickly named his Portuguese countryman. @spursofficial 18 quickfire questions with Mateus Fernandes ⁉️ ♬ original sound – spursofficial Meanwhile, Fernandes also revealed that Roberto De Zerbi played a key role in convincing him to make the move to Spurs. ‘I’m very happy, I’m very excited for this next step,’ Fernandes told Spurs Play. ‘Of course, it’s a massive club. I already know the city, the country. I spoke with the manager. I think he was the main key for me to join Tottenham and the project. We will fight for Premier League. We will fight for the first place. Mateus Fernandes said Roberto De Zerbi was the ‘main key’ behind his move to Spurs (Shutterstock) ‘The way he [De Zerbi] spoke with me, my family, it was very special for me, with my family, it was very special for me and my family. ‘I’m very excited to meet him, to meet the fans, to meet everyone, try to do my best and enjoy the moment. ‘I think we need this type of people, not just as a manager, but as a guy to try to take everything of you. It can be very special for me. I fully believe in him and this club. The way he spoke about me to my family, with me, made the decision easy. ‘I’m ready for this next step. I’m ready for this pressure. It’s one thing that I work for. So, I’m very excited to play for a big club, for a manager that wants to win titles.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty) Manchester United will reportedly turn their attention towards trying to sign Arsenal and Chelsea target Alex Scott after missing out on a deal for Mateus Fernandes. The Red Devils have made strengthening their midfield a key priority over the summer transfer window and have already agreed a deal for Brazil international Ederson. United also held extensive talks to sign Fernandes, and the West Ham midfielder had prioritised a move to Old Trafford this summer. However, Tottenham appear to have won the race to sign Fernandes after agreeing to pay West Ham’s £85million asking price and offering the 21-year-old a more impressive salary package. Don't miss a World Cup moment England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Get it all in our daily World Cup newsletter. Sign up. United will resume their efforts to sign a midfielder, and transfer expert Ben Jacobs reports that they will now explore a deal for Bournemouth midfielder Scott. The 22-year-old only missed one of Bournemouth’s league games last season as they secured a brilliant sixth-place finish to qualify for Europe for the first time. Scott’s form almost saw him named in England’s World Cup squad, but Thomas Tuchel instead opted for Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo as his back-ups for Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. Several clubs are interested in Alex Scott (Picture: Getty) Despite that, Scott was one of five players who joined the England squad’s preparation camp in the United States ahead of the tournament, with interest in his services for next season only heightening since then. Premier League champions Arsenal are also believed to be admirers of Scott as they too look to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s title-winning midfield. Chelsea and Manchester City are also said to be interested in Scott, who has two years left on his current deal at Bournemouth. The Cherries are said to have slapped an £80m asking price on the midfielder and are keen to discuss terms on a new deal with Scott, which could include a release clause. Tottenham look to have pipped United to the signing of Mateus Fernandes (Picture: Getty) United have been linked with several other midfielders, including Aurelien Tchouameni, Carlos Baleba and Sandro Tonali. And Rio Ferdinand wants his former club to prioritise a move for the Real Madrid star, who faces an uncertain future in Spain after a high-profile fight with Federico Valverde last season. ‘I’ve woke up to the news that Fernandes from West Ham could be going to Spurs, 80, 80 million, huge money, it’s thrown me,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. ‘I think Manchester United and Arsenal have made it very clear, they have a stance in this window, they’re not going to overpay for people who they don’t feel they should. ‘You know what, I’m going to put my neck on the line, I think Man United are holding up their money, they’re holding the money back for one man and that’s Tchouameni. ‘If he becomes available in this market, Man United are not going to miss, they can’t afford to miss that one. ‘They may let another couple slip through the bag if the price isn’t right.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Aurelien Tchouameni is on Manchester United’s midfield shortlist (Anadolu via Getty) Rio Ferdinand predicts Manchester United will attempt to sign Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni this summer after losing out to Tottenham in the race to sign Mateus Fernandes. United had held extensive talks to sign Fernandes and the West Ham midfielder had prioritised a move to Old Trafford this summer. However, Spurs appear to have won the race to sign Fernandes after agreeing to pay West Ham’s £85 million asking price. United were not willing to meet West Ham’s valuation and are now exploring alternatives to the 21-year-old, who West Ham signed from Southampton a year ago for £38m plus £4m in add-ons. Don't miss a World Cup moment England updates, match previews and exclusive analysis. Get it all in our daily World Cup newsletter. Sign up. Among United’s midfield targets is Tchouameni, who is with France’s squad for the World Cup this summer, and reports this month have claimed that Madrid could be open to selling the 26-year-old, who they signed from Monaco for £85m four years ago. Ferdinand has backed United to make a move for Tchouameni and believes his former club are ‘holding the money back’ for their top targets. Tottenham are set to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham (PA Wire) ‘I’ve woke up to the news that Fernandes from West Ham could be going to Spurs, 80, 80 million, huge money, it’s thrown me,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. ‘I think Manchester United and Arsenal have made it very clear, they have a stance in this window, they’re not going to overpay for people who they don’t feel they should. ‘You know what, I’m going to put my neck on the line, I think Man United are holding up their money, they’re holding the money back for one man and that’s Tchouameni. ‘If he becomes available in this market, Man United are not going to miss, they can’t afford to miss that one. ‘They may let another couple slip through the bag if the price isn’t right.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source