Arsenal could test Real Madrid for €80 million-rated midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni if they fail in pursuing top targets.
A report from Football Transfers suggests Arsenal could target Aurelien Tchouameni if they still need to sign their priority midfield targets. That being Romeo Lavia or Moises Caicedo, as Mikel Arteta wants to wrap up a move for another central midfielder after Declan Rice’s capture.
It’s been a busy few days at Arsenal, who have stepped up aggressively in the transfer window. Mikel Arteta has been adamant about concluding priority business early and having his preferred targets available for pre-season training.
Arteta and Edu Gaspar have set out a solid plan that has worked in their favour so far. After wasting no time agreeing on a deal with Chelsea for Kai Havertz, Arsenal have swiftly won the bidding war with Man City for Declan Rice and agreed on a record fee with West Ham for the England midfielder.
Similarly, they are close to capturing Jurrien Timber in a near-€50 million deal from Ajax. Arsenal will have concluded their primary business with the three players and could now move into the second phase. Developments within the squad may force Arteta to add another midfielder to the mix, and a few options are discussed.
Chelsea target Moises Caicedo remains on Arsenal’s list, but so does Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. Despite making two bids in January for the Brighton star, the Belain emerged as a preferred target in this window, and Arsenal have good relationships with his agent.
The report states that if Arsenal misses out on signing Caicedo and Lavia, they could turn their attention towards Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni. The Gunners are supposedly willing to test the Spanish giants with an offer for the €80 million-rated Frenchman.
On the one hand, this reeks of a massive rumour, but on the other, there have been reports stating Real Madrid might consider a sale. The latter part could only become possible if Florentino Perez feels there’s a chance to sign Kylian Mbappe. The Madrid president will have to raise funds for the French captain, and he will unlikely miss out on him this time.
For now, no credible sources have linked Arsenal with a move to Tchouameni. As things stand, they remain interested in signing Lavia and may surprise some by targeting Caicedo, although the latter seems unlikely, given the costs involved.
