As Real Madrid and Liverpool get ready to square off for the Champions League Final on May 28, a battle between LaLiga’s Royal Whites and the Premier League’s Reds is brewing off the pitch on the transfer market.
Aurelien Tchouameni could be the most in-demand midfielder on the transfer market this summer – even above free agent Paul Pogba of Manchester United.
The 22-year-old Monaco star was excellent last season, but he has reached another level already in 2021/22 with 2.5 tackles, 2.9 interceptions, 1.8 fouls drawn, 1.1 dribbles completed, and about 59 passes per game in Ligue 1 this season. On top of that, Tchouameni completes 87 percent of his passes, and his numbers in the Europa League are also fantastic.
While Tchouameni reportedly very much wants to play for Real Madrid, there is some conflict regarding the actual favorites in this transfer battle. Liverpool and Los Merengues are currently seen as the top two landing spots, with PSG, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United four more big clubs mentioned as being interested.
Tchouameni is the only long-term Casemiro replacement for Real Madrid
Based on recent rumors, Liverpool are pushing even harder than Tchouameni. Perhaps Jurgen Klopp has identified him as the perfect midfielder for him. And why wouldn’t he? Tchouameni is young, ascending, capable of scoring brilliant goals, great on the ball, smart with his passing, and elite at defending.
Real Madrid fans are nervous that the Merengues will not sign Tchouameni and will be complacent in midfield. They know Tchouamen is the only possible long-term replacement for Casemiro and the best midfielder for them to purchase.
If Real miss out on him, they may not get a great anchor for their midfield for a while. On the other hand, an elite competitor in Europe – their literal competition for this year’s biggest prize in the Champions League Final – could get even stronger if they miss out.
Losing Tchouameni to City would be just as big of a problem, but with Liverpool there is the added issue of prestige. As with Erling Haaland, it is possible for Real to lose out to a player due to money. But if they lose to Liverpool on the transfer market, it would not be a money issue. It would be a complacency, intelligence, or prestige issue, and Madridistas do not accept those as reasons for losing on a top target who helps the team, will become an elite player, and, most of all, wants to join.
This transfer saga may be a test of Tchouameni’s resolve to join Madrid, just as the Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Eduardo Camavinga cases. Camavinga chose to wait for Real, Mbappe (thus far) has done the same, and Haaland changed his mind in order to play every week as a young player.
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What will Tchouameni choose? It is not an easy decision, but missing out on this player to Liverpool could be a massive blow in the coming years. With Luis Diaz in the side and Trent Alexander-Arnold crushing it, as usual, the Reds have a great nucleus. Tchouameni would add to that as a generational talent in the 6 role, when he could have helped Real Madrid just as significantly over the next decade.