Former United boss planning to plunge a dagger into Carrick’s heart, INEOS have been offered an alternative – report

Manchester United’s midfield search has led them to Mateus Fernandes, but the chase has proved to be far more complicated than INEOS would have liked. West Ham remain stubborn regarding their valuation, with INEOS attempting to negotiate a lower fee. There is interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur as well, but the major risk is posed by Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho is reportedly a fan of his compatriot and, as per Defensa Central, he has identified the Portugal international as the ideal replacement for Aurelien Tchouameni. United were interested in Tchouameni, but moved on to Mateus Fernandes The Frenchman has been linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams but both the midfielder and Real president Florentino Perez had categorically denied that the 26-year-old is up for sale. But Mourinho has different ideas. He remains open to sacrificing the former AS Monaco ace in order to get his hands on Mateus Fernandes. Interestingly, it should also be remembered that Tchouameni was involved in a major spat with Fede Valverde, and Mourinho would rather keep the Uruguay international over the Frenchman if push comes to shove. “Selling the French midfielder could be the ideal solution for Mourinho to acquire the West Ham player he has requested for his Madrid side. If Tchouameni stays, the sale is unlikely to go very far. Mourinho wants Mateus Fernandes, Real could offer Tchouameni to United “The Portuguese coach would prefer to keep the Uruguayan (Fede Valverde) over the Frenchman if forced to choose. Therefore, Mateus Fernandes is being considered as an alternative for the midfield.” United could potentially jump for Tchouameni, but then they would risk missing out on the West Ham star. That does not look likely at this stage. The 20-time English league champions remain locked in talks with the Hammers, with INEOS keen not to overpay. There is a general feeling that they will eventually get their man despite Real Madrid’s best efforts, with Mateus Fernandes keen to link up with Bruno Fernandes, whom he considers his idol. Feature image Julian Finney via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25