Aurelien Tchouameni | signs new contract til 2031, to be official after the World Cup

I think some folks are just missing the big picture. While Tchouameni might not be the greatest number 6 in history, he would still by far be the most ideal signing for us this summer given what's available on the market and especially in regards to midfield balance. Him paired with Mainoo and/or Fernandes has genuine potential. Would also bring some much needed experience, which pretty much all the other, albeit younger options lack. If he's gettable this summer we should do everything in our power to sign him. It's that simple.
 
I don't mean to sound facetious but building a midfield like Barcelona or PSG is not straightforward. Players like Vitinha, Neves, Busquets and Xavi aren't a dime a dozen, and even with them in the side there's quite a bit more that goes into making a team play the way Barcelona or PSG do.

Oftentimes people are keen on having players with more of a physical presence because it's very tough to retain possession as well as those teams do.

Exactly this.

Fans are ready to drop any defensive solidity and physicality from our midfield this summer because "PSG blueprint", with no acknowledgement that we play in the toughest and most physical league in the world, our technical level and ball retention is miles behind PSG in every area of the pitch, our slow defence can't push up the pitch, our front 4 turnover the ball for fun, Carrick has never shown any signs of being able to coach a team to be the best in the world like Enrique.
 
I'd answer this question by saying that, in my opinion, you are quite considerably understating his value defensively by saying he's "decent". I don't think there are very many midfielders who are better from a defensive standpoint.

I'd agree that his passing is solid but not spectacular, and certainly anyone expecting him to fill the shoes of Kroos or Modric would end up sorely disappointed. That said, if you want a midfielder who could facilitate a more expansive set of technical players in midfield, for my money you're unlikely to find a better option who even might be available this summer than Tchouameni.
I wouldn't want my non expansive or technical midfielders on the most wages
 
I don't mean to sound facetious but building a midfield like Barcelona or PSG is not straightforward. Players like Vitinha, Neves, Busquets and Xavi aren't a dime a dozen, and even with them in the side there's quite a bit more that goes into making a team play the way Barcelona or PSG do.

Oftentimes people are keen on having players with more of a physical presence because it's very tough to retain possession as well as those teams do.
How about we build a midfield like good United sides?
 
Would you feel the same about Camavinga on a loan with option to buy basis as this guy then?
I don’t rate Camavinga at Madrid either. Rated him before Madrid, I would not aim to sign players who are regressing when there are plenty on the upwards trajectory
 
Because of what @giorno says about him at Madrid and that performance against Senegal last night. Personally I still want to sign this "limited DM", however I'm very much in the minority on this one.
This isn’t true though, is it?
Just look on page 1 of this thread alone and you’ll find there are quite a few posters who aren’t keen on him.
 
But 1. it was in Serie A and 2. his strengths shine more as a defensive minded 8 or box-to-box. He is not sitting deep, not tall enough to win aerial duels and who covers when he bursts forward? I believe we need a 6 like Tchouameni or whoever.

He also excelled in Europe for one and against PL opposition. Secondly no he had a superb season as a 6, he can do both things to a high level. Agree he needs to improve in the air

Its ok to believe we need a midfielder like Tchouameni. I don’t agree I think we need one more in the Carrick/Matic/Keane mold
 
Senegal were much more compact and stronger as an opponent than Algeria were. Camara, Gana Gueye, and Pape Gueye is a tough midfield 3 to break through. Algeria's midfield left wide open spaces.



Which 6 would you rather, who supposedly isn't so passive with the ball?

The ones we have been linked with are pretty good. I don’t believe we need a specialist 6, people seem to forget Mainoo is actually pretty decent defensively. Midfielders who can defend, and have technical quality works for me. Fernandes is a good signing, so is Ederson one more like that and I think we do well.
 
Barcelona are regularly playing Frenkie de Jong and Pedri in a midfield two, and they're consistently getting easily cut through. If they didn't have a world class goalkeeper and one of the best attacks in the world, they'd look a very different team. PL fans want physical players because it's a physical league and midfield is often won through sheer intensity and physicality, it is what it is. It doesn't mean it's the only thing we want.

Also, why is it that if you're big, physical and black, you're automatically considered "limited" or a "battle warrior"? I've noticed it on several occasions here
Ah now don’t be trying to pull that card when nobody is insinuating that. Just don’t start
 
If this is true, maybe tchamemi becomes available?


Marca is basically Real’s mouthpiece so it effectively means Real want Enzo and it’s well known Enzo wants Real so having just also signed Bernardo Silva whilst also already having Valverde who’s their captain and Bellingham they would already have to fit four players into three positions and that’s before also taking into account Tchouameni, Camavinga, Guler and maybe Chema and Paz returning.
 
Exactly this.

Fans are ready to drop any defensive solidity and physicality from our midfield this summer because "PSG blueprint", with no acknowledgement that we play in the toughest and most physical league in the world, our technical level and ball retention is miles behind PSG in every area of the pitch, our slow defence can't push up the pitch, our front 4 turnover the ball for fun, Carrick has never shown any signs of being able to coach a team to be the best in the world like Enrique.
I think some of that's a bit strong but yeah, basically!

I do find it a bit mad how often people talk about PSG "providing the blueprint", like replicating what they've achieved is as simple as just signing some midfielders who are good at passing the ball!
 
How about we build a midfield like good United sides?
But again, players like Keane, Scholes and Carrick aren't just a dime a dozen!

Anderson is the closest I can think of to a classic "United" midfielder in the sense that he's very ambitious with his passing, excels technically, and also very mobile and keen to be involved. But again, even he's not without his limitations; he's not the most positionally disciplined player you'll ever see and he's sometimes too ambitious with his passing. And again, more pertinently, he wants to join City rather than us and would cost about £120 million to sign.

There aren't any midfielders available to us who are in the absolute top tier of world football, I don't think. Bouaddi's recently getting a tonne of hype but I think people are in for a rude awakening if they expect a really great passer there because his progressive passing numbers are very unremarkable.
 
Marca is basically Real’s mouthpiece so it effectively means Real want Enzo and it’s well known Enzo wants Real so having just also signed Bernardo Silva whilst also already having Valverde who’s their captain and Bellingham they would already have to fit four players into three positions and that’s before also taking into account Tchouameni, Camavinga, Guler and maybe Chema and Paz returning.
I’d assume Valverde and Fernandez at the base, Bellingham and Paz as the #10. Bernardo as wide right and depth.
 
But again, players like Keane, Scholes and Carrick aren't just a dime a dozen!

Anderson is the closest I can think of to a classic "United" midfielder in the sense that he's very ambitious with his passing, excels technically, and also very mobile and keen to be involved. But again, even he's not without his limitations; he's not the most positionally disciplined player you'll ever see and he's sometimes too ambitious with his passing. And again, more pertinently, he wants to join City rather than us and would cost about £120 million to sign.

There aren't any midfielders available to us who are in the absolute top tier of world football, I don't think. Bouaddi's recently getting a tonne of hype but I think people are in for a rude awakening if they expect a really great passer there because his progressive passing numbers are very unremarkable.
Without doubt the best passer we could sign is Wharton, however INEOS are too obsessed with this too similar to Kobbie thing. I suspect any arguments about this guy will be academic as Mourinho will insist on him staying.
 
I thought Tchouameni looked good in the 30minutes of the game I watched (pretty boring early on).
He waa zipping passes across the ground to the wings, noticeably cleaner than other players. He also was mobile, dropping into defense, pushing the line of midfield up.
I didnt see any examples of heading or recovery.

The one issue would be his pay being high.
 
Why is he suddenly a dud when at the start of the summer he was seen as the no.1 target of Anderson wasn’t available?

It happens every time people actually watch him play, same thing happened at El Classico. He’s not that good.
 
If this is true, maybe tchamemi becomes available?


Everyday they have a different chosen player. Yesterday it was Fernandes and everyone lost their shit here. Madrid and their mouth pieces are extremely unreliable and fickle so take it with a pinch of salt.
 
It happens every time people actually watch him play, same thing happened at El Classico. He’s not that good.
People see things differently as evidenced by the matchday threads every single weekend :lol:

I see a defensive midfielder who, although comes off as stiff as safe, has very good control off the ball, is competent with his back towards the goal and eats second balls for fun. His job is to win the ball back, protect his backline and move possession on towards the real playmakers, not be a DLP or pass to death.

Exactly the sort of profile we need next to Kobbie, not necessarily an all-action/box to box type who's also a terrific passer (aka a unicorn/metronome/Modric) like so many seem to only want.

It's not as sexy a profile as everyone wants but it's quite literally what we've needed. Have him starting transitions and whipping balls to Fernandes or Kobbie at Old Trafford and we may have something resembling a balanced midfield for the first time in almost a decade.

He would've been hounded out of Madrid years ago if he 'wasn't that good' instead of being one of the first names on the team sheet.
 
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But again, players like Keane, Scholes and Carrick aren't just a dime a dozen!

Anderson is the closest I can think of to a classic "United" midfielder in the sense that he's very ambitious with his passing, excels technically, and also very mobile and keen to be involved. But again, even he's not without his limitations; he's not the most positionally disciplined player you'll ever see and he's sometimes too ambitious with his passing. And again, more pertinently, he wants to join City rather than us and would cost about £120 million to sign.

There aren't any midfielders available to us who are in the absolute top tier of world football, I don't think. Bouaddi's recently getting a tonne of hype but I think people are in for a rude awakening if they expect a really great passer there because his progressive passing numbers are very unremarkable.

We don’t need star names or alleged top tier players. We need players who meet the correct profile and being a good technician on the ball and ability to progress the ball is absolute must have for a successful United midfielder whether or not they are defensive minded or attack minded.

I don’t remember many successful United CMs who lacked that. I also don’t remember many at any top sides that were successful outside of unicorns like Kante / Makalele
 
Being a low risk player doesn't make you poor, it just means you're disciplined enough to follow managerial instructions regarding your assigned role and responsibilities on the pitch :lol:

I don't need my DM to always improvise and take a ton of risks in possessions, we have the likes of Bruno and others for that. Need him to do the dirty work required to allow the others to do what they're best at
 
The childishness in this thread has gotten tedious. Discuss like adults and stop being so entrenched; this is a forum not some partisan rallying campaign. Disagreements can be had without this silly, mocking tone and use of smileys.
 
I expect some backlash to this, but links are emerging to Sander Berge - is Tchouameni worth the extra 30-40m in fee and 200k+ wage?

Berge is 28 this year, pretty much day to day 2 yrs older than Tchouameni and currently on 50k a week.

My wider point is whether Tchouameni is worth the risk of such a big contract compared to what he brings.
 
I expect some backlash to this, but links are emerging to Sander Berge - is Tchouameni worth the extra 30-40m in fee and 200k+ wage?

Berge is 28 this year, pretty much day to day 2 yrs older than Tchouameni and currently on 50k a week.

My wider point is whether Tchouameni is worth the risk of such a big contract compared to what he brings.

Valid question. The money saved could certainly be used elsewhere.
 
The childishness in this thread has gotten tedious. Discuss like adults and stop being so entrenched; this is a forum not some partisan rallying campaign. Disagreements can be had without this silly, mocking tone and use of smileys.
Seeing you post this immediately after me gives off the impression it's aimed at me directly so I'l address it and suggest that we might as well get rid of them altogether if it's gotten that serious to be honest which I've never thought that it is...

I use them regularly in most discussions, not even just this thread/debate, to not give off the super serious and angry tone that is so often seen on this forum :lol:

That's me though and if it's insulting to anyone in particular, which I've yet to hear that, then I apologize as that's not the intent.
 
I expect some backlash to this, but links are emerging to Sander Berge - is Tchouameni worth the extra 30-40m in fee and 200k+ wage?

Berge is 28 this year, pretty much day to day 2 yrs older than Tchouameni and currently on 50k a week.

My wider point is whether Tchouameni is worth the risk of such a big contract compared to what he brings.

Fair point, but if you sign Berge, there’s a good chance you’re looking for another midfielder next summer. Sign Tchouaméni and that position is sorted for years.

I get the wage concerns, but if he helps elevate the team, £300k a week is justified. The issue wasn’t high wages—it was having too many players earning big money without delivering on the pitch.

Basically I don’t see the ~£150k we might give Berge improving us to the level the ~£300k we would be giving Tchouameni.
 
Fair point, but if you sign Berge, there’s a good chance you’re looking for another midfielder next summer. Sign Tchouaméni and that position is sorted for years.

I get the wage concerns, but if he helps elevate the team, £300k a week is justified. The issue wasn’t high wages—it was having too many players earning big money without delivering on the pitch.

Basically I don’t see the ~£150k we might give Berge improving us to the level the ~£300k we would be giving Tchouameni.
Berge was 28 in february, Tchouameni turned 26 in January. I’ll also add that Berge’s qualities will mature the older he gets.

Berge would be on 80-100k at United.

My take on the wage issue is that we need to be rewarding performance while at the club in the current cycle. I’m not averse to 200-300k wages, but it needs to be on either guaranteed talent or players who justify it in the shirt.

Giving 250k to Tchouameni at 26 is a risk as if he has no upturn and performs equivalently to Onana at Villa, with the trend moving towards 3 nimble midfields (PSG, Real Madrid this window) your going to be stuck with him for 5 yrs.
 
I expect some backlash to this, but links are emerging to Sander Berge - is Tchouameni worth the extra 30-40m in fee and 200k+ wage?

Berge is 28 this year, pretty much day to day 2 yrs older than Tchouameni and currently on 50k a week.

My wider point is whether Tchouameni is worth the risk of such a big contract compared to what he brings.
Berge is a decent player, uses the ball well, tall and decent in the air
 
Sander Berge instead of Tchouameni has big "we have McDonald's at home" energy.
 
It was derided not that long ago even when we wanted to sign Ugarte
Which was strange as he was half the price of Ugarte. No one thought he'd set the world alight, but he seemed to fit a profile better. I think we can dream a bit bigger now though and hell probably cost more than Ederson, who I think will be better.
 
Everyday they have a different chosen player. Yesterday it was Fernandes and everyone lost their shit here. Madrid and their mouth pieces are extremely unreliable and fickle so take it with a pinch of salt.
Yeah I think this is only gonna get legs if either one of the Utd journos or Ornstein say something new about it. Right now it feels like all the noise is coming from Real side
 
Yeah I think this is only gonna get legs if either one of the Utd journos or Ornstein say something new about it. Right now it feels like all the noise is coming from Real side
Whitwell reported that the club was discussing him back in April

Since then there's more and more noise of Real looking to make sales as they try to add to that midfield along with talk about Mourinho's vision for it which oddly may not include him.
 
This is one domino



He also wants the move so I don't think Chelsea will haggle much if they offer around his original fee
 
Sander Berge instead of Tchouameni has big "we have McDonald's at home" energy.
So true.

If the club's ambition can't stretch beyond Summerville and Berge as our targets, everything our CEO has been saying has to be considered a blatant lie. We're certainly not closing the gap to the top with those kinds of additions. Winning the title won't come cheap and we'll have to be prepared to compete in the market for the best players. Otherwise it's just a pipe dream.
 
Whitwell reported that the club was discussing him back in April

Since then there's more and more noise of Real looking to make sales as they try to add to that midfield along with talk about Mourinho's vision for it which oddly may not include him.
Yeah and Ornstein said one to keep an eye on back in May, however nothing since then and feels it needs an update from the English side
 
This is one domino



He also wants the move so I don't think Chelsea will haggle much if they offer around his original fee

He is a different profile of midfielder to this guy, so surely only someone in the mould of Rodri would see him potentially surplus to requirements