Manchester United have been warned that AS Monaco will demand big money for Aurelien Tchouameni.
Tchouameni is being tipped to depart the principality club when the transfer window re-opens and Ralf Rangnick 's side have been mentioned as a potential destination.
United and their Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool have been credited with an interest in Tchouameni while European giants Juventus and Real Madrid are also said to be keen on the 21 year-old.
Tchouameni is regarded as one of the rising stars in his position, midfield and has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract at Monaco.
He will cost any potential suitor a big transfer fee and Paul Mitchell, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton recruitment chief, has made it clear Monaco do not want to sell the player.
Mitchell is Monaco's sporting director.
"He is a complete midfielder, very fast and physically strong, he reminds me of Steven Gerrard," Mitchell told Italian newspaper Tuttosport.
"He is already a top player despite being only 22, but if we want to become a top club, then we should not sell him.
"We are an ambitious club. Everyone, from President Rybolovlev to coach Niko Kovac, is ambitious here.
"However, we’ll assess the situation at the end of the season. The player is under contract until 2024 and his transfer value is the one of a top player.
"Everything is expensive in Monte Carlo, let’s say that Tchouameni is as expensive as the Grand Casino."
Tchouameni has established himself as a key player for Monaco this season, playing in all-but-one of his side's matches in the French top tier.
Tchouameni is a defensive midfielder and captained Monaco in their Europa League opener against Austrian side Sturm Graz back in September.
He is also a seven-cap France international with his most recent appearance for Didier Deschamps's side coming in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup qualifying three months ago.
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