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Manchester United remain optimistic about securing Youri Tielemans, with the club’s confidence rooted in similarities between the Belgian midfielder and last summer’s successful signings, as reported by ESPN.

Towards the end of the last campaign, chief executive Omar Berrada emphasised the necessity for the Red Devils to remain “flexible” to achieve their summer transfer goals, especially given the intense competition for top targets across Europe.

After missing out on their two main midfield targets, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes – who signed for Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively – the club’s resolve has been put to the test. Nevertheless, Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox have adhered to their strategic approach.

Under previous management, two such setbacks might have triggered panic at Old Trafford. However, under INEOS’s leadership, swift and discreet action was taken to finalise two deals: one for Chelsea’s promising midfielder Andrey Santos, and another for Tielemans.

During negotiations for West Ham United’s young talent Mateus Fernandes, who became a secondary target after Anderson proved unattainable, doubts lingered regarding the 21-year-old Portugal international’s “commitment to the move.”

When Tottenham Hotspur entered the race, showing readiness to meet West Ham’s £85 million valuation, Manchester United opted not to match the bid – a decision influenced both by Fernandes’s lack of enthusiasm and the high asking price.

This stands in sharp contrast to last summer, when Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha turned down interest from several clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, to fulfil their dream of playing for Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams.

According to ESPN, insiders believe this passion was a “key reason” why both players “settled in so quickly.” Some staff members at the club also feel that Jadon Sancho’s difficulties at Old Trafford partially stemmed from uncertainty about leaving Borussia Dortmund back in 2021.

Supporters and journalists alike were taken aback when Manchester United activated a previously undisclosed £35 million release clause in Tielemans’s Aston Villa contract.

Aston Villa were keen to retain their influential midfielder and were prepared to offer improved terms to discourage a move. The Belgian international also drew lucrative interest from Saudi Arabia, where he could have secured a massive salary.

However, Tielemans’s focus was firmly on Old Trafford. During discussions with United, he reportedly made it “very clear” that joining the club was a lifelong ambition – fulfilling a childhood dream.

As per ESPN, Berrada “prefers transfer deals involving release clauses” because they eliminate what is informally referred to as “the United tax.” At £35 million, Tielemans’s acquisition is considered exceptional value compared to other Premier League midfielders available this summer.

Similarly, Andrey Santos is understood to have shared the same enthusiasm during talks with United’s recruitment team. The club initially attempted to sign the 22-year-old Brazilian last summer while negotiating Alejandro Garnacho’s move to Stamford Bridge.

Although Chelsea initially refused to sell, Manchester United maintained contact with Santos’s representatives. Once the Blues softened their stance, United moved swiftly to conclude a £50 million deal – a move regarded internally as another cost-effective signing relative to comparable targets.

In the years following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, Manchester United supporters have often seen players arrive at the club more motivated by financial gain than by pride in representing its heritage. The current strategy – prioritising players who view Old Trafford as the peak of their careers – reflects a more thoughtful and ambitious vision that aligns with the passion of the Stretford End faithful.