Liverpool knew £85m star compared to Gerrard would reject Anfield move

Follow us on Google Discover

Premier League runners-up Liverpool always knew Aurelien Tchouameni was prioritising Real Madrid before his £85 million move to the European champions, as reported by The Athletic. 

Not content with destroying Liverpool’s dreams of a seventh continental title, Real Madrid got the better of the Merseyside giants on the boardroom as well as the pitch, snatching Monaco’s powerhouse France international from right under Jurgen Klopp’s nose. 

According to Fabrizio Romano, Klopp even held talks with Tchouameni – who has been compared to Anfield legend Steven Gerrard by Monaco director Paul Mitchell – in an attempt to lure the 22-year-old to Anfield. 

Liverpool were always fighting a losing battle, however. As far as the former Bordeaux ace is concerned, Real Madrid was an opportunity too good to turn down. 

Real Madrid beat Liverpool to Aurelien Tchouameni

“As soon as Real Madrid arrived, I did not hesitate,” says Tchouameni, Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year. “I want to leave a mark on football and the best club for this is Real Madrid. It’s the best decision for me.” 

Trigger-happy president Florentino Perez, meanwhile, did not miss an opportunity to rub his new £85 million midfield enforcer in Liverpool’s face. 

“The Tchouameni deal? PSG and Liverpool wanted Tchouameni. It’s normal to have competition,” says Perez, as reported by the Echo. “He only wanted Real Madrid.” 

Then again, Liverpool suspected from day one that this might have been the case. According to The Athletic, the Reds were under no illusions about Tchouameni’s desire to put pen to paper with the La Liga winners. A staggering £85 million price-tag – far more than Liverpool paid Benfica up front for Darwin Nunez – was another substantial stumbling block. 

And, with August’s Premier League opener against Fulham just over a month away, fears are growing on the red side of Stanley Park about the midfield depth available to Klopp.

Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner are all the wrong side of 30, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita remain injury prone. Takumi Minamino has also departed for a new adventure in Monaco.