Manchester United and Liverpool have suffered a setback in their pursuit of Aurélien Tchouaméni after Real Madrid decided the France international will remain at the Santiago Bernabéu for the upcoming season.
The 26-year-old midfielder had been closely watched by both Premier League clubs throughout the summer amid uncertainty over his long-term future in Spain. However, the situation has shifted after new Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho reportedly made it clear that Tchouaméni will play a key role in his plans.
Rather than reshaping his midfield, Mourinho is understood to have told the club he wants to give the former AS Monaco player the consistent run of starts he has been seeking since arriving in Madrid.
The decision effectively removes any prospect of Tchouaméni leaving as part of a wider overhaul in midfield and is expected to end speculation over a possible move to England, at least for now.
Real Madrid had spent recent months evaluating whether further reinforcements were needed in central midfield.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Manchester City’s Rodri were among the players discussed internally as the Spanish giants assessed their long-term options in the position.
Although Madrid publicly denied pursuing Fernandez, sources indicate there was contact with the Argentina international’s representatives after club president Florentino Perez included the Chelsea midfielder in a potential transfer strategy during his successful re-election campaign.
Despite that interest, Fernandez is no longer regarded as a realistic target, while Rodri has also dropped off the club’s shortlist.
Instead, Mourinho has reportedly redirected the club’s attention towards strengthening in defence.
The Portuguese coach believes Real Madrid’s priority should be signing another elite central defender rather than investing further in midfield.
After discovering that Manchester City’s Ruben Dias is unavailable, the Spanish giants are now understood to have switched their focus to Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck.
That change in transfer strategy has reinforced Tchouaméni’s position within the squad and removed the need for Madrid to consider sacrificing him to fund midfield recruitment.
For Manchester United and Liverpool, the development represents a significant obstacle.
Both clubs are understood to have maintained contact with Tchouaméni’s representatives throughout the transfer window and remained updated on his situation in the Spanish capital.
Had Real Madrid indicated they were prepared to sell, both Premier League sides were reportedly ready to explore a move for the France international.
However, that possibility now appears increasingly remote.
Tchouaméni himself has never actively sought to leave Real Madrid and has consistently expressed his desire to establish himself at the club if given the opportunity.
With Mourinho now prepared to offer him that chance, all indications suggest the midfielder will stay in Madrid and become an important part of the team’s plans for the new campaign.
While Manchester United and Liverpool are now expected to focus on alternative midfield targets, sources indicate both clubs will continue monitoring Tchouaméni’s situation should circumstances change later in the transfer window or beyond.
