Liverpool are reportedly considering reviving their interest in Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni during the upcoming January transfer window, in an attempt to further boost their Premier League title hopes.
Arne Slot's side have made an exceptional start to the 2024-25 season, with the Dutchman winning a club-record eight of his first 10 league games, propelling the club to first place in the Premier League table.
Liverpool have primarily selected a midfield three of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, and the trio have often exceeded expectations to date this term.
Gravenberch's transformation into the Reds' deepest midfielder has been remarkable, especially as the Dutchman was previously seen by many as lacking basic defensive fundamentals.
However, TEAMtalk claims that Slot is still keen to add to his midfield and that the club could move for Tchouameni, who is said to have been transfer listed by Real Madrid and has an asking price of £100m.
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Failure to sign Martin Zubimendi
While some might be surprised that Slot would be keen to add to his ranks considering his side's results, Liverpool's failed pursuit of Martin Zubimendi this past summer would suggest that the club still believe they need to reinforce in midfield.
Liverpool's search for midfield reinforcements has been the case for some time considering they tried to sign Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo in 2023, and have not truly replaced Fabinho at the heart of midfield.
Tchouameni has started 10 of Real Madrid's 11 La Liga matches this season, but it should be noted that the Frenchman only played six minutes against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on October 22.
Real have struggled at times this season to replace the metronomic passing of Toni Kroos, and while Tchouameni is good in possession, he possesses a different skillset to the German.
With the likes of Eduardo Camavinga also in contention for a spot at the base of midfield, competition for a starting spot could become particularly intense as the season progresses.
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How would Tchouameni fit in at Liverpool?
Despite their good showings this season, one of the issues with Liverpool's midfield has been that Mac Allister has been caught out physically due to the need to cover large spaces.
Tchouameni's arrival would certainly free up the Argentine and could allow him to maximise his ability in the middle and final thirds.
Additionally, though Gravenberch has proved to be a valuable member of Slot's early Liverpool side, he has at times struggled to progress the ball centrally via passing.
While Tchouameni does not possess the Dutchman's ability to evade pressure or to carry the ball forward, he is more accustomed to acting as a midfield controller, evidenced by the fact he has attempted 654 passes in La Liga, 100 more than Gravenberch has for Liverpool in the Premier League.
Additionally, Gravenberch's passes in the league have travelled a progressive distance of 2,108 yards, whereas Tchouameni's have progressed 3,484 yards.
If Liverpool were to sign the Real Madrid midfielder, his arrival could help the Reds sustain their early-season form that has them positioned at the top of the table.
Lewis Nolan
