Manchester United fans have still not recovered from the absolute demolition job inflicted upon them by long-term rivals Liverpool earlier this month, but the Reds could do further damage to their enemies.
Fresh after United were battered 4-0 at Anfield in a game that ensured the gulf in quality between the two sides was on full display, Liverpool could now pinch yet another transfer target away from Old Trafford in the form of AS Monaco man Aurélien Tchouameni.
United have been tracking the young Frenchman's progress for quite some time, but will now have to beat Jurgen Klopp's side to his signature.
This comes less than four years after Liverpool pulled the exact same stunt with Brazilian midfield lynchpin Fabinho. Coincidentally, the midfielder was also plying his trade for Monaco at the time, when speculation started to mount that he was on his way to what was then Jose Mourinho's United side.
In fact, two years prior in the summer of 2016, Fabinho's wife Rebeca Tavares appeared to be in favour of a transfer to United if her Instagram activity was anything to go by.
However, the midfielder actually addressed the talk linking him with the Red Devils shortly after he put pen to paper with Liverpool.
"I was never close to signing for Manchester United, no," Fabinho told FourFourTwo. "I heard things said about it, but the truth is it was never a strong possibility. I won’t deny there were a few conversations about my situation with Monaco, but there was never an official offer from United."
The midfielder continued by insisting he only ever had eyes for the Reds: "As soon as Liverpool declared their interest in signing me, it was a simple decision to make. A club with Liverpool's history wants you? Come on, you just pack your bags and go. It will be an honour to wear the famous red shirt."
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That doesn't entirely add up with his comments from when he was still a Monaco player and discussing United's lingering interest. "It's a tempting invitation. I would first talk to my agent, Monaco too, to decide everything right," he told Esporte Interativo. "But it's a great club, sure enough I would think well about it."
United will be on high alert to ensure something similar doesn't happen in their pursuit of Tchouameni, as Liverpool start to sniff around given the 22-year-old is widely expected to be allowed to leave in the summer. Despite the fact his contract does not expire until 2024, Monaco appear to be resigned to losing another talented midfielder.
International teammate and at least for the time being Old Trafford star Paul Pogba has been very vocal in his praise for Tchouameni. "Very, very good. He’s not a boy, he’s a man," he told RTL.
"It’s a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, extraordinary technical and physical quality. We wish him to play a lot more games and that I am always by his side."
Pogba is likely to have since departed the club by the time Tchouameni would have arrived should he sign, but Erik ten Hag reportedly shares that same admiration for the midfielder and has expressed his desire to make the former Bordeaux man one of the first signing's of his United reign this summer.
The likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also rumoured to harbour interest, but the player himself is thought to favour a move to the Premier League and contact has already been made between the Reds and Tchouameni's representatives, as per Foot Mercato.
