Word from Spain suggests that Tottenham Hotspur have made a bold move to hijack Liverpool’s chase of Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni. The Spanish outlet Fichajes first broke the story. The popular Tottenham Transfer News account on X then spread the news further. The North London club have put a massive €100m (£87m) offer on the table for the French international.
Aurélien Tchouaméni at the centre of a £87m Premier League Tug-of-War
This move puts Spurs neck-and-neck with Liverpool in a bidding war. The Reds have reportedly matched this nine-figure price tag because they are desperate to fix their defensive issues. The report says that Real Madrid’s bosses value the player highly. Even so, the sheer amount of money involved has forced the La Liga giants to stop and weigh their options.
Despite the high price, people close to the Bernabéu insist that Los Blancos don’t feel they have to sell right now. Alvaro Arbeloa recently took over as manager after Xabi Alonso left. He seems to think Tchouaméni is a vital part of his team. However, both Premier League clubs keep pushing, which suggests they think Madrid might sell to raise cash for other signings.
Tottenham’s readiness to smash their transfer record shows just how much pressure their leaders are under to land a superstar. Meanwhile, Liverpool see the Frenchman as the final piece needed to steady their midfield.
A defining move for the 2025/26 season?
Tchouaméni’s situation is increasingly becoming complex. At Real Madrid, the 26-year-old has spent most of this season playing as a makeshift centre-back under the old system. This role keeps him from playing his natural game as a midfield enforcer. Madrid are currently finding their feet under Arbeloa. So, the player might be open to moving back to his favourite No. 6 role in England.
For Tottenham, this move looks like a massive roll of the dice for a club stuck in 14th place. Manager Thomas Frank is under a lot of fire right now. While the team have expensive stars like Xavi Simons, they don’t have a powerhouse in front of the defence to replace João Palhinha. However, talking a player of Tchouaméni’s level into joining a mid-table side is a tough sell, regardless of the financial package.
Liverpool, on the other hand, make more sense. The Reds won the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first year, but they have struggled at the back this season and are at the bottom of the league for tackles won. Ryan Gravenberch is finding it hard to adapt to the holding role.
Tchouaméni would fill that gap right away and let the Dutchman play further up the pitch. Joining Anfield gives the Frenchman a shot at the Champions League and a clear role in the team. By comparison, Spurs can offer a big paycheck but not much stability on the pitch.