Liverpool have now made contact to sign Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni, with former manager Jurgen Klopp a big fan of the midfielder.
Klopp went all out to sign Tchouameni before Real Madrid move
Tchouameni signed for Real Madrid in 2022, joining from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, but he would've moved to Anfield if Klopp had his way, with the German making a trip to France, in an attempt to convince him to join.
However, the former Monaco man believed the opportunity to move to the Santiago Bernabeu was too good to turn down, saying: “As soon as Real Madrid arrived on the scene, I did not hesitate. I want to leave a mark on football and the best club for this is Real Madrid. It’s the best decision for me.”
Since then, the Frenchman has gone on to become an important player for the Spanish side, picking up seven goals and eight assists in 191 matches in all competitions, and lifting the 2023-24 Champions League courtesy of a 2-0 victory in the final against Borussia Dortmund will be a highlight.
As such, the £209k-a-week midfielder's decision to join Madrid was vindicated, and the La Liga heavyweights are desperate to extend his stay at the club beyond 2028, which is when his current contract is set to expire.
aurelien-tchouameni-real-madrid
That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Real Madrid want to secure Tchouameni's future, amid interest from the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester United named as potential suitors.
In fact, both sides have now made contact with the 44-cap France international's agents, although he has no desire to leave Madrid, which means a deal could be difficult to orchestrate.
Having been lauded as "world-class" by Transfermarkt's Stefan Bienkowski, the Madrid star could be an exciting acquisition for Liverpool, but a deal seems unlikely, and they may have their work cut out trying to keep hold of one of their own midfielders.
Real Madrid eyeing move for Alexis Mac Allister
In the same report, it is detailed Real Madrid are interested in signing Alexis Mac Allister, with the Argentinian regarded as a potential successor to Toni Kroos or Luka Modric.
Interestingly, the Reds may even be willing to offload Mac Allister, amid criticism of his performances this season, and a blockbuster swap deal for Eduardo Camavinga could be on the cards.
Camavinga could even be a better signing than Tchouameni, having outperformed his Real Madrid teammate across a range of key statistics for midfielders in La Liga this season.
Key stats in La Liga Aurelien Tchouameni Eduardo Camavinga
Tackles per 90 2.3 3.9
Recoveries 5.0 5.2
Goals per 90 0.04 0.07
Successful dribbles per 90 0.1 0.8