Manchester United have supposedly seen an approach to sign a highly-rated Real Madrid midfielder rejected by the player himself.
Funds at Old Trafford are expected to be limited for the January transfer window, but Ruben Amorim should be given a healthy budget to mould the squad into his own vision during the summer of 2025.
A new midfielder is likely to be near the top of the Portuguese's agenda, as both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are likely to leave; the former has even been linked with a shock return to Real Madrid amid their current defensive crisis.
Neither man is expected to play a key role in Amorim's midfield for the remainder of the season, though, as the consensus is that Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo will be the first-choice pairing in his 3-4-3 setup.
Nevertheless, Man United are still running the rule over potential midfield targets for Amorim's first full season, and according to Bernabeu Digital, they recently contacted Real and France's Eduardo Camavinga through intermediaries.
Camavinga 'turns down' approach from Man United
© Imago
The 22-year-old has become a cornerstone of the Blancos team since joining from Rennes in a £25.8m deal in 2021, making 152 appearances in all competitions and conjuring up two goals and nine assists.
Camavinga has won two Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns in the Spanish capital, although he has been limited to just seven appearances in all competitions this season due to a summer knee injury.
The France international has supposedly been made aware of Man United's interest in him, but he has politely declined the offer to leave Real Madrid, where he is completely settled and intends to stay for "many more years".
From Man United's side, the 20-time English champions are also believed to have accepted that Camavinga does not want to make the move to the Premier League, and their approach was nothing more than an 'unsuccessful feeler'.
Camavinga extended his Real Madrid contract until the summer of 2029 in November 2023, and his current terms also include an astronomical release clause worth €1bn (£831m).
What other transfer targets are Man United pursuing?
© IconSport
While the midfield situation at Old Trafford must be addressed next summer if Casemiro and Eriksen indeed depart, Amorim has two more pressing matters; the left-back and striker conundrums.
Neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee has been cutting the mustard up front this season, while Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are still waiting for their first minutes of the current campaign due to injuries.
The Red Devils could apparently dip their toe into the Ligue 1 market in January for an attacking reinforcement, as a separate report has claimed that they are interested in a mid-season deal for Paris Saint-Germain's Randal Kolo Muani.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes - who worked under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon - is said to be a prime left-back target, as are Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich and Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez.
Amorim takes charge of his first Man United match away to Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
