Manchester United-linked Eduardo Camavinga is not untouchable at Real Madrid, according to reports. United started the summer in need of a midfield rebuild, and it's hard to argue they haven't improved in that department.
Granted, they started the summer targeting the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes, but ended up signing none of them. However, with the additions of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, and most recently, Carlos Baleba, they have added Premier League-proven quality to their midfield. The best thing about it? They haven't paid through the nose either, with the three signings coming to just over £150million all in.
Left-back issues persist
Whether the trio will provide enough quality to help United build on the third-place finish they recorded last season remains to be seen. But there was a feeling that United might have been a bit busier in the final week of the window. Left-back was highlighted as a problem area during the summer, but despite efforts to sign Lewis Hall, United were left disappointed. Newcastle, after a summer of turbulence, refused to sell.
United were also told alternative targets like Alejandro Balde and Ian Maatsen were not for sale. There has also been rumoured interest in Camavinga, who is a midfielder by trade but has filled in at left-back before in the past.
Real Madrid open to offers
Negotiating with Real Madrid is typically difficult for any club, given the size and power of the Spanish giants. However, according to The Athletic, it's believed Camavinga is not considered an untouchable asset like some of his team-mates. Los Blancos are even open to offers and reports this morning said if the price is right, a deal could be struck today for the Frenchman.
It would appear there is not enough time for United to broker such a big move at this late stage, which may disappoint club legend Gary Neville. Despite the weekend win over Ipswich, Neville urged his old club's bigwigs to put their hands in their pockets.
He remarked: "I don't know if there are one or two defenders available, but if there are, can you somehow try and advance that money into this window and then spend less next season? Because it would really make a massive difference if they could get a centre-back and a full-back in. You saw at the end of the game [against Ipswich] when Dalot and Shaw go off, you've got Yoro playing right-back, and you've got Mazraoui playing left-back. That's not ideal at all."
One of them is makeshift full-back at best, there's no lack of willingness for him to play there, but he's not a full-back. Mazraoui can play left-back, but he's not the left-back that you want there. Yet United could come back in for Camavinga in future if he is indeed made available.
