Manchester United are reportedly ready to rival Chelsea in the pursuit of AS Monaco’s 21-year-old rising sensation Aurelien Tchouameni.
According to The Athletic, as relayed by Transfer Market Web, Chelsea have set their sights on Aurelien Tchouameni. The West London giants have been tracking him for quite some time and the AS Monaco starlet could become the club’s priority target in the next summer transfer window.
Chelsea were linked with a move for Tchouameni even before the capture of Saul Niguez on deadline day. However, they are set to face stiff competition from Manchester United, among other clubs, in pursuit of the young midfielder, who is widely regarded as the next big thing in French football.
A product of the Bordeaux youth academy, Tchouameni has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the past 12 months. Under the tutelage of Niko Kovac, the youngster has become a lynchpin in the Monaco midfield, turning a lot of heads with his quality in possession and the ability act as an efficient ball-carrier. He is also adept at controlling things in the middle of the park, thus attracting the interest of Thomas Tuchel.
It is apparent that the Chelsea boss is eyeing for the future. N’Golo Kante is slowly nearing the final stage of his career while Jorginho’s agent has hinted at a potential return to Italy for his revered client, so the addition of a gifted midfielder like Tchouameni could prove to be a massive boon for the Blues.
As for Manchester United, their fans have been crying out for a new midfielder all summer. There have been many question marks over the temerity of Fred and Scott McTominay, with Gabriel Agbonlahor even ruling out the Red Devils from the title race due to the lack of a proper defensive midfielder.
Tchouameni could certainly be an interesting addition to the Manchester United midfield. His ability to anchor the play makes him an invaluable asset to a team that already boasts the services of chance creators like Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. The 21-year-old even recently played alongside Pogba for France, during the international break.
Also Read: THT 2021/22 Summer Transfer Window Verdict: Chelsea
However, given the success the Frenchman has had so early on in his career, Tchouameni could certainly cost a fortune, especially with his current contract at Monaco not expiring until 2024. But given the financial state of French football, there is a wiggle room for interested parties like Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester United to try and negotiate a lower fee for the midfield prodigy next summer.
