Liverpool make significant admission to Real Madrid over loan ‘interest’ in €100m long-term target

Lewis Oldham
Liverpool want Tchouameni

According to reports, Liverpool ‘maintain interest’ in Real Madrid and France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni ahead of this summer’s transfer window.

The Premier League club are looking to sign two or three new midfielders this summer and this will be part of a major squad overhaul.

Their squad is in need of a freshen-up and an influx of new players will be vital as Jurgen Klopp attempts to turn Liverpool into a Premier League title challenger once again.

Klopp has arguably been too loyal to his current crop of players in recent years, but Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham have been among their favoured targets over the past couple of seasons.

Tchouameni made a name for himself with Ligue 1 outfit Monaco. His form for the French side earned him a move to Real Madrid last year. The fee for him could potentially reach €100m with add-ons.

Liverpool were known to be in the running to sign Tchouameni before this deal was completed. He subsequently admitted that they were “the first club to show interest” in him.

“The first club to show interest in me was Liverpool,” Tchouameni told Le Parisien. “There were discussions, but as soon as Real Madrid entered, my mind was made up.”

“I didn’t hesitate for a second. I told my agent, take me to Real Madrid.”

Bellingham is set to join Tchouameni at Real Madrid as it is now thought to be only a matter of time before his mega-money move to Spain from Borussia Dortmund is completed.

Liverpool were in the running to sign Bellingham but they pulled out of the race after realising his valuation has skyrocketed to around €130m.

READ MORE: Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid is perfect for him, Premier League fans and England

90min are now reporting that ‘Liverpool would be interested in signing Tchouameni from Real Madrid even if they could only acquire him on loan’.

Liverpool’s need to retool – particularly in midfield – has become a lot more evident this campaign, and 90min understands they remain huge fans of Tchouameni.

‘Liverpool have informed Real Madrid they would be willing to take the 23-year-old off their hands should he become available. Jude Bellingham is expected to head to the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, while Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are likely to pen new deals, making competition for midfield places fierce.

‘Carlo Ancelotti and the Real Madrid hierarchy do not intend to let the France international leave and the player himself has not displayed any signs of discontent. Nevertheless, even if Tchouameni is not available for a permanent transfer, Liverpool would still be interested in taking him on loan.’

The report also picks out Mason Mount, James Maddison, Florian Neuhaus, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister as other players on Liverpool’s ‘radar’.

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