Manchester City are reportedly preparing a €90 million move for Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni as Pep Guardiola seeks a long-term solution to his side's reliance on Rodri. According to reports from Fichajes, City have identified the 26-year-old France international as the primary candidate to bolster a midfield that struggled for consistency during Rodri’s recent recovery from a long-term ACL injury.
City’s search for midfield security
The interest in Tchouaméni follows an uncharacteristic period of instability for the Premier League champions. While City spent over £170 million in the January window on attacking reinforcements like Omar Marmoush, the lack of a specialized alternative to Rodri remains a structural vulnerability. Tchouaméni has proven his tactical versatility at the Bernabéu, frequently dropping into central defence during injury crises, but his primary value lies in his defensive shielding. With Rodri now 29 and returning from significant knee surgery, City require a high-calibre anchor to share the workload. The proposed €90 million fee reflects Tchouaméni's status as a Tier 1 defensive midfielder, mirroring the market rate established by Declan Rice’s £105 million move to Arsenal in 2023.
Real Madrid’s midfield recalibration
The potential departure of Tchouaméni is linked to a broader shift in personnel under manager Xabi Alonso. While Alonso recently praised the midfielder's impact, stating that the team's system was "defined by" his presence, Real Madrid are understood to be monitoring Rodri as a priority target for 2026. According to Madrid Universal, the Spanish giants may be willing to sacrifice existing squad depth to fund future pursuits, with Eduardo Camavinga also reportedly no longer considered "untouchable" if offers exceed €50 million. Any deal for Tchouaméni would likely require several moving parts, as Real Madrid intend to offer the Frenchman a contract extension until 2031 to protect his market value. If City formalize their interest, they may face competition from Manchester United and Liverpool, both of whom have been credited with monitoring the player’s situation in the Spanish capital.
Negotiations are expected to be contingent on Real Madrid's ability to secure a world-class replacement before sanctioning the sale of a regular starter.