Chelsea has been gifted with a lifeline for the signing of Aurelien Tchouameni. The young Frenchman was tipped to be leaving his club for Real Madrid. He has been a long term target for Chelsea so knowing that he could possibly move to the same club that is taking Antonio Rudiger away, leaves a bitter taste.
However, the Blues have another chance to snatch up Europe's hottest midfielder as the Los Blancos have pulled out of the race. According to the Daily Mail, the £60 million price tag placed on him repelled Madrid leaving Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool to fight for his signature. This could mean that Chelsea will have to make a choice between him and a fan favourite.
Read More: Former England defender urges Chelsea to make huge Jorginho contract decision amid transfer links
It's no secret that Declan Rice is hoping to find his way back to Cobham. He has been open about wanting to leave West Ham before his contract expires in 2024, and is reportedly interested in a move to Chelsea. The only problem is his price tag. West Ham has placed a whopping £100 million tag on their captain leaving Chelsea in a sticky situation. The thought of buying both Rice and Tchouameni could mean the rest of the squad goes untouched.
Realistically, £160 million for two midfielders is just not good business. No matter how much money the club possesses after the takeover, it just does not feel right. The Roman Abramovich era has now passed so whoever takes the mantle in the upcoming weeks will need to make smart decisions. In a time when Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all need a midfielder of Tchouameni's calibre, the fight will end with the team that is willing to pony up on the hefty deal. Based on history, Liverpool and Manchester United will be the most likely to spend in their current situation. Liverpool because they usually have on major signing once in a while and Manchester United because, well, they're losing a great player in Paul Pogba in the summer.
Chelsea would be fortunate to have Tchouameni on their team, but Rice needs to be the priority. A traditional DM that has proven Premier League experience. I know the saying "proven in the Premier League" is overplayed, but there are benefits in buying a player who already understands what is required against the opposition.
It's a tight situation and it may come down to Thomas Tuchel's judgement. The German admires Rice. When asked how he rates the England international he said, "very highly". However according to Marca, According to Marca, Chelsea has made effort in trying to negotiate terms with Tchouameni, after being instructed by Tuchel to do so.
In an ideal world, Chelsea manages to get both deals across the line. A midfield duo of Rice and Tchouameni taking over from Jorginho and N'golo Kante in future, yes, please. But let's face reality. It's too much to ask for.
