Manchester United have reportedly taken their summer transfer plans to another level by agreeing a sensational deal to sign Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, shortly after closing in on Carlos Baleba from Brighton.
The reported double midfield operation would represent one of the most ambitious rebuilding moves of the Michael Carrick era, with United attempting to completely transform the heart of their team ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The news would come as a huge statement of intent from Manchester United, particularly because the club’s priority throughout the summer has been to strengthen the midfield. United have already been working on a deal for Carlos Baleba, with reports on Wednesday indicating that the club were close to reaching a full agreement with Brighton. Sky Sports reported that Baleba was preparing to travel to Manchester for a medical, with the transfer expected to be worth more than £60 million and a five-year contract ready for the Cameroon international.
Adding Tchouaméni to Baleba would completely change the profile of Manchester United’s midfield. Rather than simply signing one defensive midfielder to provide protection in front of the defence, United would suddenly have two physically powerful, tactically intelligent and defensively minded players capable of controlling games from deep positions. It would give Carrick options that Manchester United have lacked in recent seasons and could allow the manager to build a much more balanced side.
However, it is important to distinguish the reported scenario from what has actually been confirmed. Current reporting does not establish that Manchester United have agreed a deal for Tchouaméni. In fact, earlier reports indicated that Real Madrid were preparing a new long-term contract for the French midfielder, with the player expected to remain at the Spanish club. United had shown interest in him, but a transfer was reportedly never close because Real Madrid did not make him available for sale.
That makes the idea of United agreeing a deal for Tchouaméni after Baleba particularly dramatic. If such an agreement were to materialise, it would represent a major change in the situation surrounding the France international and would immediately become one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer.
Manchester United’s interest in Tchouaméni is not new. Earlier in the summer, reports identified the Real Madrid midfielder as one of the players on Carrick’s list as the club searched for additional midfield reinforcements. The Guardian previously reported that Tchouaméni was one of United’s targets and that his potential price could be around £70 million. At the same time, Baleba was also being considered as another option for the defensive midfield position.
The difference now is that Baleba’s situation has moved significantly forward. Manchester United have reportedly submitted a bid of around £65 million for the Brighton midfielder, consisting of £60 million upfront and £5 million in potential add-ons, while negotiations between the clubs have continued.
Baleba is therefore increasingly close to becoming a Manchester United player, and his arrival alone would be viewed as a major piece of business. The 22-year-old has developed into one of the Premier League’s most exciting defensive midfielders, combining strength, athleticism, ball-winning ability and the capacity to carry possession through midfield. His Premier League experience would also make him an attractive option for a United team looking for greater intensity and physicality.
But signing Tchouaméni as well would take the midfield rebuild to an entirely different level.
The Frenchman has established himself as one of the leading defensive midfielders in European football since moving to Real Madrid. His ability to operate as a holding midfielder, protect defenders, win challenges and distribute the ball would make him an ideal player for a side attempting to control matches from the centre of the pitch.
For Manchester United, the potential combination of Tchouaméni and Baleba would provide enormous physical presence. Both players are capable of covering large areas of the pitch, competing for second balls and protecting the defence. Their athleticism could also allow United’s attacking players to take greater risks because there would be greater defensive security behind them.
This is exactly the kind of midfield structure that could help Bruno Fernandes operate with greater freedom. The Portuguese midfielder has often been required to contribute heavily in both attacking and defensive phases because of the lack of consistent protection behind him. If United were suddenly able to field two specialist midfielders behind him, Fernandes could potentially spend more time in advanced areas where his creativity, passing and ability to find decisive positions can have a greater impact.
The same could be true for United’s attacking players. Wingers and full-backs could push forward more aggressively knowing that there is substantial protection in central midfield. Carrick could potentially create a system in which United press high, win the ball quickly and immediately attack opponents without leaving huge spaces in front of their centre-backs.
The arrival of Baleba and Tchouaméni would also create fierce competition for places. United already have Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans after bringing both midfielders to Old Trafford this summer, while Kobbie Mainoo remains an important part of the squad. Reports have described Baleba as a potential third midfield signing, meaning the addition of Tchouaméni would make the competition even more intense.
Rather than being a problem, however, Carrick could view that competition as essential.
Manchester United have spent several seasons struggling with inconsistency in midfield. Injuries, departures and changes in management have repeatedly forced the club to alter its midfield combinations. Building a deeper group of players with different strengths would give Carrick the ability to adapt his tactics depending on the opposition.
Against a physically demanding Premier League opponent, Baleba could provide the energy and ball-winning ability required to dominate midfield battles. Against a team that controls possession, Tchouaméni’s positional discipline and experience could become particularly important. In other matches, Carrick could potentially use both players together and create one of the most physically imposing midfield partnerships in the Premier League.
There would also be a significant psychological impact on Manchester United’s rivals.
For years, United have been accused of failing to address their midfield weaknesses decisively. A summer in which the club brings in Baleba and Tchouaméni would send a completely different message. It would demonstrate that the club is prepared to invest heavily in rebuilding the most important area of the pitch.
It would also show that Carrick is not simply trying to make small improvements to the existing squad. Instead, the manager would be attempting to construct a midfield capable of competing with the strongest teams in England and Europe.
The timing would make the Tchouaméni story even more interesting. Manchester United have already been linked with the Frenchman while simultaneously pursuing Baleba, and Carrick has publicly indicated his desire to strengthen the squad further before the transfer window closes. Reports have stated that United were looking for another midfielder as well as a left-back, with Tchouaméni among the midfield names previously considered.
If the club were suddenly able to convince Real Madrid to part ways with Tchouaméni, negotiations would undoubtedly attract enormous attention across Europe. Madrid would have to decide whether selling an established France international fits into their long-term plans, while United would need to convince the player that Old Trafford represents the right next step in his career.
For Tchouaméni himself, a move to Manchester United would represent a completely different challenge from playing for Real Madrid. At Madrid, he has competed at the highest level and experienced the pressure of playing for a club where trophies are effectively mandatory. At United, he would be arriving as one of the central figures in a rebuilding project.
That responsibility could be enormous, but it could also make the move attractive. If Tchouaméni became the midfield leader of a resurgent Manchester United side, his influence would extend far beyond simply winning tackles and making passes. He could become one of the faces of a new era at Old Trafford.
And if Baleba arrived alongside him, United would have two players capable of developing into long-term pillars of the squad.
The potential financial commitment would obviously be substantial. Reports have previously placed Tchouaméni’s possible valuation around £70 million, while Baleba’s emerging transfer fee is expected to exceed £60 million and could approach £75 million depending on the final structure of the deal.
That would mean Manchester United potentially spending well over £130 million on two midfielders alone.
It would therefore be one of the biggest midfield investments in the club’s recent history. But United’s argument would be that the midfield is an area where major investment is justified. The club cannot realistically expect to challenge for major honours without having the quality, depth and physicality necessary to compete against the Premier League’s strongest teams.
Baleba and Tchouaméni would offer precisely that.
Imagine a Manchester United midfield with Tchouaméni sitting deep, Baleba operating alongside him, and Fernandes given greater freedom further forward. Behind them would be a defence receiving considerably more protection, while the front players would have greater freedom to attack.
That structure could dramatically alter the way United approach matches.
Instead of constantly being exposed when possession is lost, United could have two midfielders capable of immediately closing spaces and stopping counter-attacks. Instead of relying on individual brilliance to escape pressure, they could have players capable of carrying the ball out of difficult situations. Instead of allowing opponents to dominate the centre of the pitch, United could physically impose themselves on games.
For supporters who have watched the club struggle with midfield balance, that would be an extremely exciting prospect.
There is also the possibility that the presence of both players would allow Carrick to use different formations. A 4-2-3-1 could feature Tchouaméni and Baleba as the double pivot behind Fernandes. A 4-3-3 could see one operate as the deepest midfielder while the other moves forward more aggressively. Carrick could even use a three-man midfield with Mainoo, Tielemans or Santos depending on the opposition and match situation.
That tactical flexibility could become one of United’s biggest strengths.
Nevertheless, until an official announcement or reliable confirmation emerges, claims that Manchester United have already agreed a deal for Tchouaméni should be treated as a developing transfer story rather than established fact. Current reliable reporting supports United’s interest in the midfielder, but it does not confirm that a transfer agreement has been reached. Indeed, previous reporting indicated that Tchouaméni was expected to remain at Real Madrid.
The Baleba situation is considerably further advanced. Manchester United are reportedly close to completing an agreement with Brighton, with the player preparing for a medical and personal terms already in place.
If United were somehow able to follow that deal by securing Tchouaméni, however, the entire perception of their summer transfer window would change.
What initially looked like a cautious rebuilding project would suddenly become an aggressive attempt to dominate the centre of the pitch. United would have added Premier League experience through Baleba while potentially bringing Champions League pedigree through Tchouaméni.
It would also give Carrick a midfield group capable of competing on multiple fronts. The Premier League is becoming increasingly demanding, and clubs cannot rely on a small group of players throughout an entire season. Injuries, suspensions, European fixtures and changes in form require managers to have genuine alternatives.
A midfield containing Tchouaméni, Baleba, Santos, Tielemans, Mainoo and Fernandes would give Carrick a wide range of options.
The biggest question would then be whether United could transform that talent into consistent performances.
Signing players is only the beginning. Carrick would need to establish the right balance, build relationships between the midfielders and ensure that the team does not become overly defensive. Baleba and Tchouaméni are both capable of contributing with the ball, but United would still need creativity and attacking movement around them.
That is where Fernandes would remain crucial.
The Portuguese star could potentially benefit more than anyone from a stronger defensive platform behind him. With Tchouaméni and Baleba providing security, Fernandes could focus on creating chances, making forward passes and arriving in dangerous areas. United’s attacking players would also be able to take advantage of the extra protection.
Ultimately, the reported Tchouaméni story represents the kind of ambition Manchester United supporters have been demanding from the club. Baleba is already close to becoming a reality, while Tchouaméni remains a much more complicated proposition given his situation at Real Madrid.
But if the two deals were somehow completed, Manchester United would have made one of the most dramatic midfield transformations in European football.
The message would be clear: Manchester United are no longer prepared to accept midfield weaknesses as a permanent problem. The club would be building from the centre outward, giving Carrick the physicality, defensive quality, technical ability and depth required to compete at the highest level.
For now, Baleba is the transfer that appears closest to completion, while the Tchouaméni agreement remains unconfirmed. But should Manchester United somehow pull off both deals, Old Trafford could be looking at the beginning of a completely new midfield era — one built around power, control, athleticism and ambition.
And with Baleba potentially arriving first and Tchouaméni reportedly being targeted next, Manchester United supporters would have every reason to believe that Carrick’s midfield revolution is only just beginning.