Man Utd start talks to sign £52m Real Madrid star

Manchester United’s hunt for a new midfielder this summer appeared to be a pretty straightforward one – secure the signature of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

The 23-year-old has been one of the Red Devils’ top targets in recent months after Brazilian star Casemiro announced he would be departing the club at the end of the season.

However, the summer hunt to land the England international now appears dead and buried, with such a deal now appearing to be out of INEOS’ price range.

Rivals Manchester City have already had an offer totalling £120m rejected for Anderson, highlighting Evangelos Marinakis’ desire to get the best amount possible for Forest’s star man.

As a result, Michael Carrick’s men desperately need to move on to other transfer targets if they are to further bolster the heart of the side ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Man Utd enter talks to sign £52m midfielder

After missing out on a deal to sign Anderson this summer, United have quickly turned their attention to West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes to fill the midfield void.

The Portuguese international is set to leave the Hammers after suffering relegation from the Premier League, with Liverpool and Arsenal also in the race.

However, any deal could cost around the £85m mark this window, as Nuno Espírito Santo’s men are reluctant to offload one of their key midfielders this summer.

Despite the reported interest in Fernandes this summer, Carrick’s men continue to explore other potential targets, leading to Eduardo Camavinga being touted as one possible option.

According to Spanish outlet Sport, United have already reached out to the LaLiga giants to gain more understanding of what would be required to secure his signature.

The report states that the likes of Juventus and Chelsea are also considering a move for the French international, who could be available for €60m (£52m) this summer.

However, the player himself is currently said to favour remaining at the Santiago Bernabeu ahead of 2026/27 and fighting for his place after Jose Mourinho’s appointment.

Why Camavinga would be better than Fernandes for United

Despite relegation from the Premier League with West Ham last season, Fernandes is a player who is set to be in huge demand during the ongoing summer window.

United’s interest in landing the 21-year-old is concrete, having already reached out to the player’s representatives, but negotiations will no doubt take place to reduce such a fee.

He was one of the Hammers’ shining lights throughout 2025/26, subsequently making the most defensive contributions of any player within the club’s senior ranks.

His age could make him an excellent addition for the immediate and long-term future, but undoubtedly the biggest concern will be around the current lofty asking price.

A move for Camavinga could prove to be a better deal for United this summer, with the Frenchman available for just £52m – a £33m difference compared to Fernandes.

Despite being just two years older than the Portuguese star, he’s already won eight major honours – including two Champions League trophies in three seasons.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the recent campaign, the Real Madrid star managed to dominate in numerous key areas, which could also make him a higher-quality addition.

Camavinga, who’s rightfully been described as “one of the best 6s in world football” by football writer Harvey Diamonds, managed to make a staggering 3.8 tackles per 90 last term – a tally higher than the West Ham midfielder.

The aforementioned tally also ranks him in the top 3% of all players in Europe, which highlights his phenomenal ball-winning ability – something which United desperately crave this summer.

He’s also bettered Fernandes for ground duels won per 90 and duel success rate, which further reaffirms his superb ability to break up the play at the base of the midfield.

However, in possession, the Madrid talent also massively bettered the numbers produced by the £85m – as seen by his tally of 65% dribbles completed in LaLiga.

Fernandes was unable to get anywhere near such a tally, whilst also being unable to match Camavinga’s pass completion rate of 92% – which also places him in the top 7% of players in the continent.

Given the mammoth price difference and quality between the two transfer targets, it’s evident that United should be putting all of their focus into a deal for the Madrid star.

His experience in Europe’s biggest competition could also prove vital for Carrick’s men next term as they look to establish themselves as one of the most feared teams on the planet.