Arsenal are looking to add another £100 million midfielder to their squad – to play with Declan Rice in the centre of the park.
The Gunners are spending big this summer and have agreed a fee with West Ham United to sign their captain Declan Rice for a British record £105m, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.
This isn't their first big signing of the summer, either. Arsenal have agreed a reported £65m deal for Kai Havertz, too, with the former Chelsea star's unveiling leaked ahead of time. The north Londoners aren't stopping there either, with more moves rumoured.
Now, Football Transfers' Jacques Talbot reports that Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni and will pursue the Frenchman, should moves for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia fail to materialise.
Tchouameni signed for Los Blancos for around €100m last summer but has found first-team action difficult to come by as Toni Kroos has played deepest in midfield with Fede Valverde tucking into midfield from his former right-wing spot in Carlo Ancelotti's setup. With Jude Bellingham joining too, his minutes may be about to get reduced further.
Liverpool are long-time admirers of Tchouameni, too, who could arrive at the Emirates Stadium to replace Thomas Partey, who is rumoured to be wanted across Europe and Saudi Arabia.
The 23-year-old is thought to still be a major part of president Florentino Perez's long-term vision but could well be seen as expendable if it funds a move for Kylian Mbappe. Arsenal, meanwhile, would likely settle for bringing the star in on loan for the season.
Football Transfers expect to see Real play a 4-2-3-1 next season with Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga combining in a double-pivot behind new acquisition Bellingham. Kroos and Luka Modric would both feature regularly despite both midfielders now well into their 30s.
Tchouameni is valued by Transfermarkt to be worth €85m.
More Arsenal stories
Arsenal transfer news is ramping up this summer, with the Gunners set to loosen their wage structure to attract the best players.
Jurrien Timber looks to be next to join, Moises Caicedo is heavily linked, Xavi Simons is on the radar, Ivan Fresneda could join, though Arsenal could sell £100m worth of players, too. Romeo Lavia is in the crosshairs – though Liverpool want him, too.
Meanwhile Folarin Balogun is being valued at £50m.
