Real Madrid have zeroed in on Argentina center midfielder Enzo Fernandez as their No. 1 target for the position, as Jose Mourinho is a huge fan of the Chelsea star and World Cup winner. But the Blues, despite evidently being open to selling the disgruntled star, know what they have in Enzo and know how good he is, seeing as how they spent an insane 121 million euros to sign him from Benfica a few years ago.
Chelsea's new manager, Xabi Alonso, was Real Madrid's old manager, and there appears to be no love lost between the two parties, even though Alonso used to be a star for Real Madrid - under Mourinho, even. Alonso's Blues already lost their star left back Marc Cucurella to Real this summer transfer window, and they do not want to lose Fernandez to the Spanish giants, too.
However, if they were to part ways with Fernandez, one player they do want back from Real Madrid is their defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. Eduardo Camavinga is probably more available on the transfer list, but Alonso had a stronger relationship with Tchou in Madrid, to the point where one of the underlying reasons for Tchou's locker room brouhaha with Fede Valverde was lingering bad blood from Alonso's firing.
Real Madrid have a prime trade to make with Chelsea
Plus, Tchouameni is more of a like for like change with Enzo Fernandez than Camavinga is. Real Madrid can still sell Cama elsewhere, assuming the Frenchman finally agrees to go, but they will probably have to sell Tchouameni anyway if they sign Fernandez. Tchou is unlikely to accept a role on the bench, and there is only room for one anchoring No. 6 in the Jose Mourinho scheme at Real Madrid.
So a blockbuster transfer swap involving Fernandez and Tchouameni makes too much sense. And Real Madrid may not have to part ways with too much cash either. Chelsea are asking for 150 million euros for a player they signed for 121 million euros three years ago, while Real Madrid signed Aurelien Tchouameni five years ago from Monaco for 80 million euros - and now he is a Champions League winner.
It stands to reason that a difference of their original prices, 40 million euros, is pretty reasonable. Real Madrid could pay up less than what they got back from Como for Nico Paz and upgrade from Tchouameni to Enzo, as Jose views the Argentinian as the better player. And Xabi Alonso can reunite with Tchouameni, who probably fits the Premier League better than La Liga.
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