Real Madrid's prized midfielder, Eduardo Camavinga, is reportedly no longer untouchable, sparking a potential summer transfer race with Manchester United circling.
Should Man Utd look at signing Eduardo Camavinga? 🇫🇷
Manchester United are gearing up to sign as many as three new midfielders this summer as co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to revolutionise the squad.
Last summer, United spent over £200 million on three new forwards, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo, and Benjain Šeško, while goalkeeper Senne Lammens was drafted in on deadline day.
This time, the club want fresh faces in the centre of the park, in part due to the pending exit of Casemiro once his contract expires in June. At the same time, Manuel Ugarte may be heading to either Italy or Turkey this summer.
Partner this with the fact that United are already short one midfielder in the department, and the club suddenly looks as if three midfield signings have become a necessity.
Camavinga's Real Madrid future in doubt
United don't just want any midfielders – they are looking to upgrade to the best-in-class in the position and have mainly been hunting in the Premier League.
However, as was reported earlier this year, United are said to have expressed early interest in Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga, having been informed by his agents that he could be available for transfer this summer.
In an update on the situation, Spanish publication Marca have now stated that, with some at Los Blancos feeling he has not quite made the step everyone had hoped since the departures of Tini Kroos and Luca Modric, he is no longer untouchable.
At the same time, it is also stressed that Madrid do not see selling Camavinga as a priority this summer, although a lot will depend on his decision.
If the France international decides he wants to leave, he will be made available, and Marca state that Camavinga is becoming torn between staying with Real Madrid or listening to offers from elsewhere, particularly in the Premier League.
One non-Premier League transfer could be perfect
United's midfield hunt has largely stayed within the top tier of English football. Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson remains the top target, while United have been closely linked with Sandro Tonali from Newcastle and Brighton's Carlos Baleba.
However, while signing from within the Premier League is the safest bet for integration into the United set-up and quick settling in at Old Trafford, as Cunha and Mbeumo have done, recruiting from other leagues could be perfect, too.
Let's say two of United's possible three midfield signings come from the Premier League; it may be wise to bring in a third from a country such as Spain to add a different skill set and way of playing, giving United more range in their options.
Beyond this, if current head coach Michael Carrick is appointed at the helm of the squad for next season onward, having him as a mentor and coach for Camavinga could help develop him into a brilliant player in the future.