Liverpool haven’t given up on Aurélien Tchouaméni.
That might sound slightly strange considering the Real Madrid midfielder has just signed a new long-term contract, but according to TEAMtalk, Liverpool have kept the lines of communication open with his representatives.
And I can understand why.
Liverpool have admired Tchouaméni for a long time. They were in contact with Real Madrid during the summer about a possible deal, but the French midfielder ultimately decided to stay in Madrid after discussions with new manager José Mourinho.
He has since committed his future to the Spanish giants.
So this isn’t a case of Liverpool preparing a bid tomorrow morning.
TEAMtalk is pretty clear that the Reds aren’t actively pushing for a transfer right now. Instead, they are keeping contact with Tchouaméni’s camp in case his situation changes.
And that’s the bit I find interesting.
Tchouaméni is obviously good enough to play for Liverpool.
The 26-year-old is an established France international and can play as a defensive midfielder or further back in defence when required. He’s the sort of player who gives a team some control and physicality in the middle of the pitch.
Liverpool chose not to bring in another midfielder during the summer despite Curtis Jones leaving, with the club also happy to give Trey Nyoni and James McConnell opportunities around the first team.
I actually like that approach.
There’s no point buying another midfielder simply because a midfielder has left.
If Nyoni and McConnell are good enough to develop into first-team players, they need a pathway.
But there is also nothing wrong with keeping an eye on someone like Tchouaméni.
If a player of that level becomes available, you don’t suddenly ignore him because you’ve decided to give younger players a chance.
The situation at Real Madrid is what could make this interesting.
Tchouaméni has signed a new contract and remains committed to the club. Real Madrid’s summer decision to extend his deal was itself a clear indication that they see him as an important part of their future.
But TEAMtalk reports that Tchouaméni would not be prepared to simply accept a role as a squad player.
That could become important if his playing time isn’t what he expects.
If he establishes himself as one of Mourinho’s first-choice midfielders, this probably goes nowhere.
If he finds himself spending more time on the bench, though, Liverpool are apparently making sure the relationship is still there.
That’s smart recruitment.
Keep the conversation open.
You never know what can happen in football.
And there’s another Liverpool connection that makes this story particularly interesting.
Julian Ward.
Ward is back at Liverpool as sporting director, and Tchouaméni is a player who has been on Liverpool’s radar for years. The midfielder was heavily linked with the Reds before he eventually moved from Monaco to Real Madrid in 2022.
Now Ward is back at Anfield and Liverpool are still keeping tabs on him.
I’m not saying that means Liverpool will sign him.
They won’t have an easy job convincing Real Madrid to sell a player they’ve just tied down to a new contract, and any deal would likely require a huge investment. One report puts Madrid’s previous summer valuation at around £80 million, although that was before the new contract and any future asking price could be different.
For me, this is one to keep in the background rather than get carried away with.
Liverpool have young midfielders they clearly want to develop.
They aren’t actively chasing Tchouaméni.
He’s happy at Real Madrid.
And he’s just signed a new deal.
But if things change over the next year, Liverpool have made sure they aren’t starting from zero.
That matters.
Sometimes the best transfer work isn’t about getting a deal done immediately. It’s about knowing which doors are worth keeping open.
And Liverpool clearly haven’t closed the door on Tchouaméni.
If his situation at Real Madrid changes, I wouldn’t be surprised if Liverpool are there asking the question again.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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