Manchester United and Liverpool have learned how much it will cost them to bring Aurelien Tchouameni to the Premier League.
The 22-year-old is in high demand, having helped Monaco push for European qualification, and Real Madrid have also reportedly shown interest along with Chelsea, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. The youngster joined Monaco from Bordeaux in 2020, and has already racked up nearly 100 games for his current club.
Tchouameni scored his first senior international goal during the most recent break, netting for France against Cote d'Ivoire, and is gunning for a place in Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad. However, if he is to travel to Qatar as a Premier League player, his potential suitors are expected to need to fork out a huge €70m (£58.9m).
United's search for a new central midfielder has seen them linked with England international Declan Rice. However, the price tag attached to the Euro 2020 star is significantly higher than the sum it would set them back for Tchouameni.
“I feel like I’ve taken another step in the right direction in my career but I’m still only 23 and trust me, I know myself, I’ve got so much more that I can let out of the bag," Rice said on Friday after securing a podium place for the Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year award. "I know that, my coaches tell me that.
With Rice likely commanding a fee of more than £100m if he moves this summer, Tchouameni would be comparatively cheaper. However, the sum - reported by AS (via Sport Witness ) - is still significant for a player with no Premier League experience.
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AS suggests the fee quoted is too steep for Real Madrid. Chelsea and Juventus are also expected to find it tough to meet the asking price, though there is still the question of whether Chelsea's new owners would be prepared to make a marquee signing in their first window.
Tchouameni himself, meanwhile, has dropped a hint about his desire to play Champions League football. Monaco lost their qualifying play-off for the tournament this season, before reaching the last 16 of the Europa League.
The Rouen-born player has also previously commented on the increased interest which has followed his performances for France - not least in the UEFA Nations League victory. He appeared on the front page of Marca after playing in France's victory over Spain, but played things down when speaking to L'Equipe at the time.
"In the dressing room, they put the cover up and laughed: 'Oh, you're leaving us already?'" he said. "It's flattering, but I don't wake up in the morning thinking about it."
