UMVA has learned that Manchester United's pursuit of highly sought-after midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni may be about to hit a major roadblock, courtesy of an unexpected twist involving Jose Mourinho.
The 26-year-old French international has been firmly on Manchester United's radar as they look to bolster their midfield ranks this summer. However, with Mourinho poised to take the reins at Real Madrid, Tchouameni's current club, United's hopes of luring him away are rapidly dwindling.
Manchester United had been keen to revamp their midfield and had agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta for £35m. The Brazil international is set to arrive soon, but the Red Devils are also on the lookout for another central midfielder, with several top targets already identified.
Mourinho, who is set to make a surprise return to Real Madrid 13 years after leaving the Bernabeu, is understood to be a huge fan of Tchouameni and will do everything in his power to keep him at the club. The Frenchman has been an integral part of Real Madrid's first team, making 49 appearances across all competitions last season.
Tchouameni's future at Real Madrid had been the subject of speculation earlier this year, particularly after a reported training ground altercation with teammate Federico Valverde. However, the Frenchman has since downplayed the incident, insisting that there are "absolutely no problems" between him and Valverde.
With Mourinho at the helm, it seems that Tchouameni's future is now more secure than ever at Real Madrid. This development will undoubtedly come as a blow to Manchester United, who had been pinning their hopes on landing the talented young midfielder.
