Fabrizio Romano has outlined the two major hurdles Manchester United are encountering as they attempt to secure Real Madrid’s defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni for a move to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have already finalised an agreement with Atalanta for Ederson Silva, but the club’s co-owners, INEOS, remain eager to bring in another midfielder during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Mateus Fernandes has emerged as Manchester United’s primary midfield target this summer, with West Ham United reportedly open to selling the Portugal international for £80 million.

United are also keeping tabs on other midfield options, including Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni has been on United’s radar for quite some time. Romano previously revealed in May that the French international is seen as a “dream” target for the Premier League side, who will compete in next season’s UEFA Champions League under manager Michael Carrick.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast in early May, following reports of a training ground altercation between Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, Romano stated: “At the moment, I can tell you, for example, regarding Aurelien Tchouameni, there is definite interest from Manchester United.”

He continued, “He’s ultimately a dream signing for Manchester United, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will move to Old Trafford just because he had an argument with Valverde.”

Further elaborating on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Of course, the situation surrounding Aurelien Tchouameni is making Manchester United supporters excited, but that doesn’t mean United can simply go ahead and sign him.”

He added, “Manchester United absolutely admire Aurelien Tchouameni. They genuinely believe he is one of the finest midfielders in world football.”

“They would love to make the transfer happen, but as of now, Real Madrid still regard Tchouameni as a key player for both their present and future projects.”

Speculation surfaced last week suggesting that Real Madrid might consider selling Tchouameni during the summer, prompting Manchester United to explore the possibility of making a move for him.

Liverpool are also reportedly keeping a close eye on the Frenchman, who remains the only natural senior defensive midfielder in Real Madrid’s current squad.

However, Romano has made it clear that completing a deal for Tchouameni will be far from straightforward, as he identified the two core issues making negotiations difficult for United.

On his YouTube channel, Romano explained: “As I’ve mentioned before, back in April and May, if Manchester United had the chance to choose the perfect replacement for Casemiro, the internal discussion always pointed towards Aurelien Tchouameni.”

“He’s seen as the ideal defensive midfielder — full of top European experience and elite quality — so the interest is undoubtedly confirmed.”

“But the challenge for this potential transfer is twofold.”

“Firstly, Real Madrid have not yet shown any willingness to allow Tchouameni to leave, so there’s no progress on the club-to-club level.”

“Secondly, there’s the issue of salary. Tchouameni earns a substantial wage at Real Madrid, and matching that figure is not part of Manchester United’s financial strategy.”

“This is something I need to clarify since there have been new rumours and stories circulating about the situation.”

“There’s absolutely no doubt that Manchester United admire and dream of signing Aurelien Tchouameni. I can confirm that.”

“They highly rate him and consider him a perfect fit, but realistically, the move depends on Real Madrid’s stance — and so far, they have not opened the door for an exit. The salary aspect remains another significant factor.”

“That’s the current reality surrounding Aurelien Tchouameni’s transfer situation.”