Rio Ferdinand predicts Man Utd will sign £85m target after missing Mateus Fernandes deal

Aurelien Tchouameni is on Manchester United’s midfield shortlist (Anadolu via Getty)

Rio Ferdinand predicts Manchester United will attempt to sign Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni this summer after losing out to Tottenham in the race to sign Mateus Fernandes.

United had held extensive talks to sign Fernandes and the West Ham midfielder had prioritised a move to Old Trafford this summer .

However, Spurs appear to have won the race to sign Fernandes after agreeing to pay West Ham’s £85 million asking price .

United were not willing to meet West Ham’s valuation and are now exploring alternatives to the 21-year-old, who West Ham signed from Southampton a year ago for £38m plus £4m in add-ons.

Among United’s midfield targets is Tchouameni, who is with France’s squad for the World Cup this summer, and reports this month have claimed that Madrid could be open to selling the 26-year-old , who they signed from Monaco for £85m four years ago.

Ferdinand has backed United to make a move for Tchouameni and believes his former club are ‘holding the money back’ for their top targets.

Tottenham are set to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham (PA Wire)

‘I’ve woke up to the news that Fernandes from West Ham could be going to Spurs, 80, 80 million, huge money, it’s thrown me,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘I think Manchester United and Arsenal have made it very clear, they have a stance in this window, they’re not going to overpay for people who they don’t feel they should.

‘You know what, I’m going to put my neck on the line, I think Man United are holding up their money, they’re holding the money back for one man and that’s Tchouameni.

‘If he becomes available in this market, Man United are not going to miss, they can’t afford to miss that one.

‘They may let another couple slip through the bag if the price isn’t right.’