Liverpool’s hopes of signing Aurelien Tchouameni have been dealt a blow, with Real Madrid in a strong position to retain the France international beyond the current campaign.
The 26-year-old recently extended his contract with the Spanish club until 2031 and remains part of Jose Mourinho’s midfield plans. That has made any potential move to Anfield considerably more difficult than it was when Liverpool first showed interest.
Transfer analyst Pete O’Rourke said Liverpool’s admiration for Tchouameni could resurface, but warned that the cost of persuading Real Madrid to sell would be prohibitive.
“There was interest previously in Tchouameni, and I’m sure there will be interest again going forward,” O’Rourke said on the Transfer Insider podcast.
“But it will be a very difficult deal to do because he only recently signed a new contract at Real Madrid to extend his stay until 2031.”
Liverpool signing Aurelien Tchouameni would require a huge offer
O’Rourke added that Real Madrid were counting on the midfielder and expected him to remain an important member of Mourinho’s squad.
“Real are obviously counting on Tchouameni. They’re obviously happy with him and they hope he will continue to play a significant part in their plans under Jose Mourinho,” he said.
“Because of Real Madrid’s position, it would cost a huge amount to try and even prise him away from the Bernabeu as well.”
Tchouameni’s continued involvement underlines the difficulty facing Liverpool. Real Madrid’s official figures show that he has made four appearances this season, starting two of his three La Liga matches, rather than operating as a fringe player.
Liverpool’s interest is particularly notable following Julian Ward’s return as sporting director. Ward was involved in the club’s previous pursuit of Tchouameni, and the midfielder is reported to remain on his radar.
There is also a clear reason for Liverpool to consider reinforcing their midfield. Andoni Iraola’s side have made an uneven start, with the balance in the centre of the pitch criticised after three draws in their opening five league matches.
Tchouameni’s physicality and defensive discipline would offer protection behind more attack-minded midfielders. His ability to cover space could also provide greater freedom for Florian Wirtz and Liverpool’s forwards while adding security to Iraola’s pressing system.
However, Liverpool would need to weigh that potential benefit against the scale of the transfer fee. O’Rourke believes the club may therefore have to consider alternative targets in the next two transfer windows, despite Tchouameni remaining a strong fit for their midfield needs.
