Chelsea transfer target Aurelien Tchouameni scored his first senior international goal for France on Friday night as Les Bleus secured a 2-1 friendly win over Ivory Coast at the Velodrome in Marseille.
Didier Deschamps handed RB Leipzig striker Christoph Nkunku his debut and recalled Olivier Giroud, making his first appearance since the EURO 2020 finals, for the friendly. Nicholas Pepe opened the scoring for the visitors with a fine effort midway through the first half before Giroud’s header quickly cancelled out any advantage. Chances fell to both sides in the second period but it was left to 22-year-old Tchouameni, making his eighth appearance for Deschamps’ world champions, to score a dramatic late winner during injury time.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Hazard statement, Rice Liverpool boost, Azpilicueta uncertainty
The Monaco midfielder has been a long-term transfer target for Chelsea after some impressive showings in Ligue 1, where he was voted Young Player of the Year and selected in the Team of the Year for the 2020/21 campaign. His rise to prominence has seen several big European clubs declare an interest in him, with Blues boss Thomas Tuchel just one name on a long list of admirers.
Strengthening his midfield options is one of the German’s top priorities for the upcoming summer transfer window with Tchouameni’s name tipped along with West Ham’s Declan Rice as a potential target. The Blues have Jorginho and N’Golo Kante both in their 30s and will so be looking to the future with their spending, with 22-year-old Conor Gallagher also set to return to the club and boost Tuchel’s options this summer following his loan at Crystal Palace.
Liverpool are one of the sides also reportedly interested in brining Tchouameni to the Premier League and have identified him as a long-term replacement for Jordan Henderson and James Milner when the pair retire. The Reds already did business with Monaco to sign Brazilian midfielder Fabinho in 2018 for a reported fee of around £39million.
It remains to be seen where Tchouameni will end up playing his club football next season, but after scoring his first international goal there will no doubt be even more eyes on him as we draw closer to the summer transfer window.
