Real Madrid ‘put off by Aurelien Tchouameni £60m price tag – leaving Man United, Chelsea in the race

Real Madrid have been put off by Monaco’s £60million asking price of midfield starlet Aurelien Tchouameni, leaving Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to scrap for his signature, according to reports. 

Tchouameni is one of the most coveted young talents in Europe after bursting onto the scene with the Ligue 1 side in 2019, and is now an indispensible member of the team – playing 47 times this season. 

His performances in the middle of the park have helped lift Monaco to fourth place in the French top flight and his side still have a chance to finish third and seal a place in the Champions League with three games remaining, as they battle with Rennes.

Real Madrid have reportedly been put off by Monaco’s £60m valuation of Aurelien Tchouameni (L), leaving Carlo Ancelotti (R) frustrated 

A number of English clubs – including Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool – could now pounce 

Madrid have already taken a promising French talent to the Bernabeu in Eduardo Camavinga and they have been strongly linked with Tchouameni too in recent months, but a move has now reportedly broken down. 

Carlo Ancelotti’s men have baulked at Monaco’s valuation of £60m for the player and have reportedly walked away from the negotiating table, as reported by Spanish outlet AS.

The Italina boss has been looking for an heir to Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, but their interest has now ‘cooled’ after being pushed back by Monaco with the huge asking price, feeling that £60m is the price for a striker, not a midfielder.

Tchouameni (left) has impressed for France in the recent international fixtures

Madrid pulling out could leave Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea left in the running to scrap for his signature

Madrid have not given up on the player totally, it claims, and the club hopes the player can force a move to the Bernabeu and persuade Monaco to drop the price to around £40m or £50m. 

The Spanish giants had been the frontrunners to sign him after Tchouameni told the club they were his main preference, it says. 

The other clubs seriously interested in the player are named as Manchester United, Chelsea, Juventus and PSG – with the door now left open for them to swoop with Madrid assessing other options. 

Liverpool have also been linked with the player. Last month Sportsmail reported that Jurgen Klopp was a huge fan of the player and that the Reds were weighing up a move for the Frenchman. 

Tchouameni has played a total of 92 games for Monaco, scoring six times. His maturity on the ball and steely performances have earned him eight caps for France – whom he helped win the Nations League last year.