Liverpool have stepped up their interest in Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, according to a report.
Tchouameni joined Los Blancos for around £85m from Monaco in the summer of 2022 and has since made 103 first-team appearances in all competitions.
The 24-year-old had a couple of short spells on the sidelines with injuries last season, but he still managed to play 38 times for Carlo Ancelotti's side that won the La Liga title, Champions League and Supercopa de Espana.
Tchouameni has since started 14 of Real Madrid's 16 matches across all tournaments so far this season, primarily operating as a defensive midfielder or on a few occasions in central defence.
However, members of Real Madrid's hierarchy are said to have been disappointed with the Frenchman's performances this term; he was most recently taken off at half time in Los Blancos' 3-1 defeat at home to AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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Tchouameni set to leave Real Madrid amid Liverpool links?
It was reported last month that Real Madrid have no interest in selling Tchouameni, who still has over three years remaining on his contract, in next summer's transfer window.
However, Sky Sports in Switzerland claims that the Spanish giants are now 'ready to listen to all offers' for the midfielder and could even use him as a 'bargaining chip' to sign on of their desired transfer targets.
Real Madrid could allegedly offer Tchouameni to Chelsea as part of a deal to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez, while they may also consider selling the Frenchman to generate funds for a pursuit of Manchester City's Rodri.
It is claimed that Real Madrid would be willing to accept offers of €60m (£49.9m) for Tchouameni, and that has seemingly altered Liverpool who are said to have been in contact with the player's entourage in 'recent days' to discuss a possible transfer to Anfield.
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Will Liverpool look to strengthen in January?
A separate report claims that Liverpool, who expressed an interest in Tchouameni before he joined Real Madrid, could reignite their interest in the Frenchman in January in a bid to boost their Premier League title hopes.
Liverpool were heavily linked with the addition of a new midfielder in the summer, but Arne Slot's side were unable to recruit any of their top targets including Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi.
Slot has since got the best out of his current crop of midfielders including Ryan Gravenberch, who has arguably been one of Liverpool's standout performers of the season operating in a deeper midfield role.
Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai have also impressed for Liverpool, who have won 14 of their 16 competitive fixtures under Slot across all competitions this season and sit top of the table in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Liverpool's links with Tchouameni come at a time when Trent Alexander-Arnold has been tipped to potentially move in the opposite direction, but a recent report claims that the Reds are unwilling to sell the right-back - out of contract next summer - to Real Madrid in January.
Oliver Thomas
