In-demand midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni looks set to complete his dream move to Real Madrid - despite a personal phone call from Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool were known to be admirers of the 22-year-old Frenchman but their Champions League conquerors are understood to have now agreed a fee of £85million with Monaco to acquire his services. According to reports, Kop boss Klopp telephoned Tchouameni himself but it would appear that he only ever had sights sets on a move to Los Blancos.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano says that Tchouameni has agreed a contract with Carlos Ancelotti's side that will run until 2027. The move to the Spanish capital comes despite Paris Saint-Germain reportedly offering more money for their fellow Ligue 1 club's star turn.
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez must already have answered key Liverpool question before transfer bid
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk international team-mate would join Liverpool for '£200,000 per week'
Madrid had been frustrated by being unable to lure Kylian Mbappe to the Bernabeu and instead threw some of their surplus resources at getting the Tchouameni deal over the line. How serious Liverpool ever were about capturing the French international is up for debate, but with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain seemingly likely to leave the club this summer, the Reds will be searching the continent for the finest talent to help bolster their engine room.
Earlier this week, veteran midfielder James Milner signed a new one-year contract with the club that will keep him at Anfield for an eighth season. But with Divock Origi's contract set to expire and Taki Minamino now also expected to leave the club, not to mention Sadio Mane's potential move to Bayern Munich, there could be a number of fresh faces in the Reds' squad before the start of the new Premier League season, however Tchouameni won't be one of them.
