Aurelien Tchouameni is a midfielder in the Steven Gerrard mould amid reported interest from Premier League giants Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, Monaco director Paul Mitchell tells Tuttosport.
When N’Golo Kante was ruled out of the UEFA Nations League final following a positive COVID test, one wondered how on earth France would cope with Spain’s perpetual movement and rapid-fire interplay.
Enter Aurelien Tchouameni.
Handed just his second start for Les Bleus with a title on the line, Tchouameni filled Kante’s boots and then some.
The Monaco star dominated the centre of the park as France saw off Luis Enrique’s side, laying the foundations for Kylian Mbappe’s dramatic late winner.
No wonder Paul Pogba, Tchouameni’s midfield partner in that hard-fought 2-1 win, labelled the all-action 21-year-old an ‘extraordinary talent’.
An assessment Mitchell agrees with.
Could Aurelien Tchouameni follow in Gerrard’s footsteps at Liverpool?
“He is a complete midfielder, very fast and physically strong. He reminds me of Steven Gerrard,” said the former Spurs director.
Mitchell’s eye for a bargain is legendary. It was he who played a central role in the deal that brought Tchouameni to the Principality from Bordeaux two years ago.
According to Marca, the Monaco ace will cost £50 million these days.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have joined Juventus in holding talks (TuttoJuve) with Tottenham and Newcastle also interested (CM and MediaSet).
“He is already a top player despite being only 22 but if we want to become a top club, then we should not sell him,” Mitchell adds.
“We are an ambitious club. Everyone, from President (Dmitry) Rybolovlev to coach Niko Kovac, is ambitious here.
“We’ll assess the situation at the end of the season. The player is under contract until 2024 and his transfer value is one of a top player.
“Everything is expensive in Monte Carlo. Let’s say that Tchouameni is as expensive as the Grand Casino.”
The chips are down, then.
Mitchell has shown his hand with Tchouameni the ace in Monaco’s pack.
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