Liverpool have been given major hope of a deal for Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni with Real Madrid telling him he will have to wait a year to play.
Tchouameni has become one of the most in-demand midfielders in world football having become an absolute star with Monaco.
Branded ‘extraordinary’ by Paul Pogba last year, Tchouameni looks like the complete midfielder.
Tchouameni, 22, is tall, combative, quick and able to get forward having scored three times for Monaco this season.
Tchouameni appears to have the world at his feet and there is unsurprisingly a major battle for his signature.
Julien Maynard of Telefoot in France claimed on Sunday that Liverpool are leading Real Madrid in the race to sign Tchouameni.
Liverpool pounced to sign Fabinho from Monaco in 2018 and may now return to the French club in search of a deal for Tchouameni.
There is now another boost for Liverpool because Real appear to have taken a bold decision in their pursuit.
Spanish newspaper Marca report that Real are telling Tchouameni that he won’t be a regular first-team player for a year if he joins.
Real plan to go with Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga as their five main midfielders.
That means Tchouameni would have to sit and bide his time before eventually coming into the side with Camavinga in 2023.
That surely won’t be good enough for Tchouameni.
He is one of the top young midfielders in the World Cup, would cost north of £50million and has the World Cup with France to look forward to later this year.
Putting his career on hold for a year would be a huge gamble and may just leave Liverpool as the favourites for his signature.
Real will no doubt attempt to sell Tchouameni a starring role in the future, but this stance from Real has to give Liverpool huge confidence.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
