Earlier today, Real Madrid announced the signing of Aurelien Tchouameni, who Liverpool and Arsenal had hoped to bring to the Premier League.
What’s the story?
Well, it was said that Liverpool held talks with the France international, and one journalist even claimed that Jürgen Klopp spoke to the defensive midfielder on the phone.
Arsenal also expressed an interest after the Reds entered talks with Monaco.
However, it is Real Madrid who have now won the race for Tchouameni’s signature, with the Spanish giants paying £85m to bring the 22-year-old to the Santiago Bernabeu.
For a sum as large as that, we wouldn’t be surprised if Liverpool and Arsenal simply withdrew themselves from the race.
In truth, we predicted this. Real Madrid had money to spend with Kylian Mbappe in their sights, but after the Frenchman opted to stay in Paris, Carlo Ancelotti was likely to splash out on other targets.
Tchouameni’s move to Madrid comes after he enjoyed a stunning season with Monaco, in which he made 50 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals while also providing three assists.
Real Madrid have confirmed that the youngster has signed a six-year contract, and will be presented to the media on Tuesday.
Liverpool & Arsenal have Aurelien Tchouameni alternatives
Despite missing out on Tchouameni, there are other options for Klopp and Mikel Arteta.
In Liverpool’s case, they are keen to sign Jude Bellingham, and it has been said that Klopp is now personally invested in bringing the England international to Anfield.
The Reds will, however, have to spend nearly £90m on the 18-year-old.
With Arsenal, the Gunners have allegedly made Ruben Neves a top target for this summer, and Bruno Lage has already admitted that the Portugal international could leave Wolves.
Whatever happens, it has already been a dramatic window so far, so be sure to keep an eye on things.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
