“Cheaper option”- Journo claims Chelsea could still sign 21-year-old Ligue 1 talent

Transfer News: Matt Law subtly hints that Chelsea are in contention to sign AS Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni

Speaking to the London is Blue Podcast, via the Chelsea Chronicle, as quoted by football.london, Matt Law of The Telegraph subtly hinted that Chelsea are still very much in contention to sign AS Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni.

The 21-year-old has been brilliant for the French club over the last two seasons. The Frenchman helped them ensure a 3rd place finish last season while they are only four points off 2nd place Nice in the current campaign halfway through this term. Two months ago, he also played a crucial role in helping Les Bleus win the UEFA Nations League.

Thus, he has certainly impressed and has been on the radar of Chelsea for a while. The Blues apparently also met his representatives in the summer and could now reignite their interest in the player.

Matt Law of The Telegraph recently revealed that Tchouameni and Declan Rice have caught the interest of the West London club, but the former could be a cheaper option. He also indicated that the Stamford Bridge outfit are making positive moves to sign the Frenchman.

“It feels like he [Tchouameni] would be the sort of cheaper option than Declan Rice. Whether that makes him option A, let us see. But I certainly think, at the moment, there is a direction of travel that is quite positive in terms of Chelsea and Tchouameni.”

Declan Rice or Aurelien Tchouameni?

If the current campaign has taught us anything it is that we are seriously short of midfielders. Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, and Mateo Kovacic have picked up injuries over the course of the campaign, while Saul Niguez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have not proved their mettle yet.

Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher are likely to return in the summer, but they shall be awarded a place in the squad depending upon their progress over the season. Thus, signing Tchouameni or Rice is the most sensible option as they would also bring down the average of the midfield options.

Jorginho and Kante are either 30 are will turn so next year. Moreover, both are also out of contract in 2023. Tchouameni may be the cheaper option, but Rice is a Premier League seasoned player. He is also a former Chelsea product and knows the club inside out. Thus, he would be the primary option, but it remains to be seen if the Blues are ready to spend the big bucks.

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Ideally, signing both would bode well for us but that might not be a feasible move. The Frenchman remains an incredibly talented youngster and is destined to make his mark on world football soon. He could solve our midfield issues, and we can give him a platform to perform. Thus, it is a reasonable move in that sense but only time will tell whether this transfer actually materializes in the coming transfer windows.