Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has outlined Manchester United’s midfield strategy following their failure to sign Mateus Fernandes from Tottenham.
The 21-year-old Portuguese talent joined Spurs in a deal worth £85 million, a package United were simply unable to match during negotiations.
Despite the disappointment, manager Michael Carrick and the Old Trafford hierarchy remain committed to a significant rebuild of their midfield this summer.
Romano, speaking on YouTube, was clear that missing out on Fernandes does not derail the club’s broader recruitment ambitions heading into the new campaign.
“It’s important to say clearly: Manchester United will still sign a midfielder,” Romano stated, emphasising that the club’s overall plan remains firmly on track.
“United were planning to sign two; one will be Ederson, and they’ll still sign at least one more,” Romano confirmed, pointing toward Atalanta’s Brazil international as the first piece of the puzzle.
The expected arrival of Ederson appears close to being finalised, giving the club a strong foundation to build upon as they continue their search for further reinforcements.
Rumours linking United to Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni have gathered momentum, though Romano has poured cold water on the prospect of a deal materialising any time soon.
Romano described Tchouameni as a “dream signing” within the club’s thinking, but made clear that both the transfer fee and the player’s wage demands currently make a move unrealistic.
“He’s a dream signing for Man United, they love the player, but at the moment the financials of the deal are considered too high, not just in terms of the fee to Real Madrid but also the salary, which is considered too high,” Romano explained.
The only realistic path to signing the Frenchman would involve a fundamental rethink of his salary structure, something Romano says is not currently under discussion between the relevant parties.
“So the only way to open the door after missing out on Fernandes is to discuss a completely different salary structure, and at the moment that isn’t happening,” Romano added.
With Tchouameni off the agenda for now, United’s recruitment team are turning their attention to a wider pool of midfield candidates to complement Ederson’s expected arrival.
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has attracted attention, while Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott have also emerged as names on United’s radar this window.
Romano made clear the club’s intentions have not wavered, noting that “it’s still a position they want to strengthen” as Carrick looks to reshape his engine room ahead of next season.
