Manchester United are reportedly in talks with AS Monaco starlet Aurelien Tchouameni’s agent in an attempt to bring the player to the Premier League this summer.
Aurelien Tchouameni, 21, is highly regarded in France and has also caught the attention of Chelsea, who view him as a cheaper alternative to West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice. The Hammers value Rice at £100m, which has priced both Chelsea and Manchester United out of a move this summer.
This has resulted in the Red Devils ramping up their interest in the AS Monaco youngster. According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri (h/t The Daily Mirror), Manchester United could launch an opening bid for Aurelien Tchouameni before the transfer window slams shut.
A product of Bordeaux’s youth system, Aurelien Tchouameni spent two seasons with his boyhood club before joining AS Monaco in January 2020. The defensive midfielder has quickly emerged as a key player for Monaco and already reached 50 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals.
The France U-21 international has started the new Ligue 1 campaign well and it is just a matter of time before he leaves Monaco for greener pastures.
Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United—A smart option for Ole?
The Red Devils have significantly bolstered their squad this summer with the signings of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. Both Sancho and Varane have added quality and experience, whilst sprinkling a bit of stardust on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.
However, Solskjaer isn’t seemingly content with his squad and may push for a third signing, with a defensive midfielder something the squad currently needs.
Nemanja Matic remains the only cultured defensive midfielder in Solskjaer’s squad, and as he turned 33 earlier this month, the Serbian isn’t a long-term solution in this position. The likes of Fred, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes and Donny van de Beek are all quality midfielders but none of them can operate as a lone holding midfielder, something which Matic can.
Thus, with Matic not getting any younger and Pogba in the final year of his contract, Solskjaer targeting a midfielder after the acquisitions of Sancho and Varane makes complete sense. Aurelien Tchouameni, in that regard, would be a perfect fit in Solskjaer’s United.
Tchouameni is one of the hottest talents in French football and excelled in the 2020/21 Ligue 1 season, where he scored two times in 36 games. At the tender age of 21, he already is head and shoulders above the players of his age group, with a 6ft 1in tall, strong frame making him difficult to dispossess. The Frenchman is a good passer of the ball, can break play with his tackling and ball-winning skills and doesn’t shy away from going toe-to-toe with players in the middle of the park.
Predominantly a defensive midfielder, Tchouameni possesses the qualities and potential to evolve into an all-action midfielder in the future. He would undoubtedly boost United’s midfield options, whilst being an ideal long-term replacement for the ageing Matic.
All in all, the Red Devils cannot miss out on a talent like Tchouameni, as the highly-rated Monaco enforcer could turn out to be a durable solution to a key position in Solskjaer’s squad.
