Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing AS Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni irrespective of whether Frank Lampard stays as manager or not.
According to a report from ESPN, Premier League heavyweights Chelsea are closely monitoring the development and progress of AS Monaco midfield prodigy Aurelien Tchouameni despite uncertainty surrounding the position of manager Frank Lampard.
A product of the Bordeaux youth academy, the 20-year-old had shown great potential at the club before making the switch to AS Monaco in January last year. Having not been involved a great deal in the second half of the last season, the midfielder has established himself as a mainstay in the middle of the park for Niko Kovac’s side.
Indeed, Tchouameni has started all but one of Monaco’s 19 Ligue 1 matches this term, missing the other only due to suspension. Utilised as a holding midfielder for the most part, the Frenchman has been able to contribute with a couple of assists as well.
Tchouameni has made a great impression so far in 2020/21, and his rise to prominence has put him on the radars of a number of clubs, including Chelsea, as per the report. The Blues are going through a difficult phase at the moment, with a run of five losses in eight Premier League games, which has led to manager Frank Lampard’s future at the club being questioned.
However, irrespective of the uncertainty surrounding the managerial situation at Stamford Bridge, it seems like Chelsea are pressing ahead with their transfer plans, with Tchouameni firmly on their radars. As things stand, the west London outfit have N’Golo Kante as their first-choice defensive midfielder, with Jorginho and Billy Gilmour as cover.
But, Lampard has shown the inclination to use Kante in a slightly more advanced role whereas Jorginho has struggled for form and has constantly been linked with an exit since the summer. So, bringing in another promising defensive midfielder who can provide more depth in the position and eventually take over from Kante makes sense for Chelsea.
Declan Rice has been a long-term target for Chelsea, but there is intense competition for his signing, with Liverpool being the latest club entering the race for the West Ham United man. Furthermore, the England international’s hefty price-tag could also be a problem, even though the Blues showed their financial clout last summer.
To that end, Tchouameni could be a cheaper alternative for Chelsea to consider to bolster their midfield unit. Any move, though, will have to wait till the summer as Monaco are certain about keeping him at the club this month. For now, it seems like the Blues are keeping a close watch on the 20-year-old and are likely to continue doing so till the summer.