EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal will reignite Tchouameni interest if Lavia and Caicedo pursuits fail

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 30 Jun 2023 12:13 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have added Aurelien Tchouameni to their list of transfer targets.

We have been told that if the Premier League outfit fail to sign either Brighton's Moises Caicedo or sought-after Southampton youngster Romeo Lavia, they will test the waters for the Real Madrid midfielder.

Arsenal are long-time admirers of the France international and have now set their sights on bringing him to the Emirates if they are unable to secure the services of the other two midfield targets.

Tchouameni had an inconsistent campaign at Real Madrid last term, but we have been told that Florentino Perez sees the midfielder as the centre-piece for next season.

He has told Carlo Ancelotti to provide Tchouameni with more minutes next campaign as part of a double-pivot. Perez sees him as the next Casemiro and will certainly not accept anything less than the €100 million that Real paid AS Monaco last summer.

EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle show interest in Ramos

Jude Bellingham doesn't fall into the equation, as he will be played as a No.10 in a 4-2-3-1. Eduardo Camavinga is expected to play alongside Tchouameni, we are told. Luka Modric and Toni Kross will continue as regular starters, despite their veteran age.

One thing that could see Real being more open to a move is if Paris Saint-Germain drop their asking price for Kylian Mbappe, who has a year left. Real want him for 2024, but if PSG do lower their asking price to around €150m, then a deal could go through.

It would mean, of course, that Real would need to free up funds for the superstar.

READ: Are Arsenal breaking FFP rules with Havertz, Rice and Timber?

Arsenal's other transfer targets

Arsenal just secured a British-record £105m (€122m) deal in principle for Declan Rice from West Ham. But we understand that Thomas Partey is set to leave after asking Mikel Arteta for an exit this window, while Granit Xhaka could return to Germany.

It leaves room for another midfielder to come in and supplement the attack in transition in addition to new €75m arrival Kai Havertz.

Meanwhile, we have heard that Wolfsburg centre-back Micky van de Ven is being watched by Arsenal, though Tottenham are thought to be ahead in the race to sign him.