Real Madrid are reportedly not prepared to offer more than €40 million to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco in the summer.
According to Defensa Central, Real Madrid are interested in signing AS Monaco and France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni in the summer transfer window but do not wish to spend more than €40 million on the deal.
Tchouameni has grown leaps and bounds since joining Monaco from Bordeaux in 2020. Now one of the best midfielders in Ligue 1, the 22-year-old has established a foothold in the French national team and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League last year. His progress has not gone unnoticed either, with clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid taking an interest in the midfielder.
Real Madrid, in particular, have been monitoring Tchouameni for a while now and have been making efforts to try and sign the Frenchman in the summer transfer window. With Luka Modric and Toni Kroos well into their thirties and Casemiro not having any cover in his position, the 22-year-old has the potential to be a top addition for Real Madrid in the long run.
However, considering that they are going all out to sign Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger, Real Madrid do not wish to splurge on Tchouameni as well.
According to the report, AS Monaco are demanding as much as €80 million for their prized asset. But Real Madrid have no intentions to meet that valuation in the summer. Instead, the Spanish capital outfit would be willing to offer just €40 million to the Principality outfit to sign the 22-year-old.
However, the report adds that Real Madrid would be open to the prospect of offering one of their fringe players as part of the deal to increase the total value of the operation. Players such as Luka Jovic, Mariano Diaz, Jesus Vallejo and Alvaro Odriozola, who are not in the manager’s plans can be used in the deal. But there has been not much interest shown in them by Monaco.
Despite the situation being as it is, Real Madrid might not be worried about missing out on the signing of Tchouameni. This is because Carlo Ancelotti is ready to hand Dani Ceballos a lifeline at the Santiago Bernabeu. The midfielder has made a solid impression after returning from injury earlier this year and has made the most of whatever opportunities have come his way.
With Ceballos, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga as cover for Modric, Casemiro and Kroos, Ancelotti could have enough options in midfield to manage for the next season even if they fail to land Tchouameni. It remains to be seen if Real Madrid and Monaco can arrive at a compromise on the transfer fee for the 22-year-old, with negotiations set to take place soon.