Man Utd considering summer move for Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni

Manchester United are considering a summer move for Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni as the club assess their midfield options, the Press Association understands.

Champions League qualification is within touching distance for the third-placed Red Devils, who boast an eight-point cushion and game in hand on sixth-placed Brighton.

United are facing a big summer as they look to kick on next term, including deciding whether to keep on Michael Carrick as head coach and how best to bolster their midfield.

It was announced in January that popular Casemiro will leave when his contract expires four years on from leaving Real, whose France international Tchouameni features on United’s list of targets.

The 26-year-old was linked to United, Liverpool and Paris St Germain before making a big-money move from Monaco to Madrid just two months before Brazil international Casemiro left for Old Trafford.

United admire Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson but reports suggest the England international favours a move to Manchester City. Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was a target last summer.

United would seemingly like to acquire two midfielders during a summer that Kobbie Mainoo looks set to head into having agreed a new and improved contract following positive negotiations.

Harry Maguire recently signed a new one-year deal, with the option for a further season, and has highlighted the importance of United’s off-season.

“I think next season you look at it and I think we’ve got to be in the bracket where if we get the recruitment right and everything’s positive from now to the end of the season and we keep going on the curve there’s no ceiling to where we can reach,” the defender said earlier this month.

“We’ve got to be in the conversation to go and win the big trophies. We’re in a strong position. We’ve had a great few months under the manager.

“I feel like the squad is starting to look like something that is a strong squad. But this summer’s going to be big, really, really big.

“We need more players, we need better quality, we need players to come into the starting 11. And then when everything comes together, we’ll see where it is at the start of the season.”

United brought in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens last summer, with Alejandro Garnacho and Antony among the permanent departures.

Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia’s deals are set to expire at the end of this season as well as Casemiro. Tom Heaton’s contract is also up but an extension could be agreed for the veteran goalkeeper.

There is doubt in Spain as to whether Barcelona will make Marcus Rashford’s move permanent, while goalkeeper Andre Onana has spent the campaign on loan with Trabzonspor.

Rasmus Hojlund has impressed at Napoli, where his move will become permanent should they qualify for the Champions League.