Manchester United are reportedly preparing a €50 million (£42.7m) offer for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, according to a Spanish radio report.

Journalist Pacojo made the claim on Cadena SER’s El Larguero, reporting that United are preparing to present an offer to Real Madrid for the 23-year-old Frenchman. The report follows United’s confirmation of Carlos Baleba’s arrival from Brighton, United’s third midfield addition of the summer after Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

Eduardo Camavinga during a Real Madrid match.Why this is a curious one

United’s interest in Camavinga is not new. Fabrizio Romano reported in July that United were interested in him as a potential third midfield signing.

That third-midfielder role, however, has now been filled by Baleba. With Michael Carrick still needing to address other areas of the squad before the September 1 deadline, a move for a fourth midfielder in Camavinga looks difficult to justify, no matter how gifted he is on the ball.

There is an interesting wrinkle here too. Camavinga has shown at Real Madrid that he can operate at an elite level as a left-back, and it is a role United still need covering. Whether the Frenchman would be open to a switch to Old Trafford as a primary full-back rather than his natural holding-midfield berth remains unclear.

Balde also in the picture

Pacojo’s report adds a second name to United’s alleged wish list: Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde, for whom United are said to be preparing a €30m (£25.6m) bid. The report says United would test Barcelona’s resolve over Balde. Given Balde’s pace and profile fit United’s transfer priorities more neatly than Camavinga’s, it is worth treating the Real Madrid claim with a pinch of salt.

Alejandro Balde during an FC Barcelona match.

Still, INEOS have shown this summer they are capable of pulling off moves nobody saw coming. Whether that extends to a surprise fourth midfield addition in the closing days of the window remains to be seen.

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