Xabi Alonso has instructed Chelsea to sign Manchester United target Aurelien Tchouameni if Enzo Fernandez gets his wish and leaves Stamford Bridge.
Fernandez is still pushing for a move away from Chelsea but a dream transfer to Real Madrid looks increasingly doubtful.
The 25-year-old is contracted to Chelsea for another five years but wants to leave following a deflating season for the west London club.
Fernandez repeatedly hinted he was keen to leave throughout the season and his agent confirmed last week that they were still ‘looking at options’.
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‘At the moment, the player is calmly focusing on the national team,’ Javier Pastore said. ‘He’s playing in a World Cup and is very close to reaching the round of 16.
‘He’s thinking only about that, whilst we’re looking at options for him to leave Chelsea, but there’s nothing definite or confirmed with any club.’
Asked about a possible move to Real Madrid, the agent added: ‘He has lots of friends there. I’m living in Madrid too.
‘Every time he’s travelled there, it’s been to see me and to sort out work matters, but apart from that: who doesn’t like Madrid? I never played in Madrid… yet I even live there.’
New Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is keen to bring Fernandez to the Bernabeu but Chelsea are standing firm on their asking price of around £120m.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, new Chelsea boss Alonso has warned his new bosses not to sell Fernandez after being left ‘disappointed’ by Marc Cucurella’s move to Real Madrid.
Cucurella completed a £52m move to Madrid last month after following Fernandez’s example and making it clear he wanted a summer move.
Alonso is believed to be keen to sign his former Real Madrid left-back Alvaro Carreras following Cucurella’s exit but Mourinho is ready to block approaches for the 23-year-old.
It is claimed Alonso has also told the Chelsea hierarchy he wants the club to swoop for Tchouameni should Fernandez eventually be moved on.
Tchouameni, who is currently at the World Cup with tournament favourites France, was one viewed as one of the best midfielders in Europe but his stock has fallen in recent years.
Alonso also admirers fellow Real Madrid star Arda Guler, with both the Turkish star and Tchouameni sitting within his ‘inner circle’ while he was in charge at the Bernabeu.
SPORT say Alonso had a ‘special connection’ with Guler but add that the 21-year-old is unlikely to be on the move as he is happy at Madrid.
Tchouameni has been heavily linked with a summer move and is believed to be of interest to Manchester United as they search for midfield reinforcements for Michael Carrick.
Real Madrid are reluctant to sell the Frenchman but will do so if they complete a stunning deal for Chelsea’s Fernandez.
If an exit for Tchouameni looks likely, Madrid will reportedly seek 90m euros (£77m) for his signature, a fee which would go a long way to covering the signing of Fernandez.
Rio Ferdinand recently predicted his former club Manchester United would sign Tchouameni after missing out on Mateus Fernandes, who has joined Tottenham from West Ham.
‘I’ve woke up to the news that Fernandes from West Ham could be going to Spurs, 80, 80 million, huge money, it’s thrown me,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
‘I think Manchester United and Arsenal have made it very clear, they have a stance in this window, they’re not going to overpay for people who they don’t feel they should.
‘You know what, I’m going to put my neck on the line, I think Man United are holding up their money, they’re holding the money back for one man and that’s Tchouameni.
‘If he becomes available in this market, Man United are not going to miss, they can’t afford to miss that one. They may let another couple slip through the bag if the price isn’t right.’
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