Transfer watch: Chelsea earmark Ligue 1 ace as an alternative to PL star

Chelsea could look to Aurelien Tchouameni as an alternative to transfer target Declan Rice

According to Evening Standard, Chelsea are extensively scouting AS Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni and consider him a transfer alternative to West Ham United maestro Declan Rice.

The Hammers midfielder has been making waves throughout the Premier League in the last few seasons. Rice who was let go from the Chelsea academy at an early age has made a name for himself with our West London rivals. The English midfielder is a dependable asset in the middle of the park and has grown in stature ever since David Moyes has taken charge of the Hammers.

Whilst many clubs are thought to be interested in the player, Rice could come at an extremely expensive price even if the Blues manage to ward off any other suitors for the defensive midfielder. The former Everton manager has sung praises of the 23-year-old English international and gone on to state that he is worth more than £100m.

With all of these developments, the West Londoners could look to Tchouameni as a more attainable alternative in the market. The French midfielder is also thought to have quite a few admirers for himself but it seems that it would be an easier task to lure him to Stamford Bridge as compared to Declan Rice.

How can Aurelien Tchouameni fit at Chelsea?

The Blues possess a solid and dependable partnership in the middle of the field but with the likes of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante entering their 30s, the club could do well to add a young name to help future proof their midfield. The 22-year-old footballer could perfectly fit this bill.

The West Londoners have struggled with injury scares and a young exciting prospect such as Tchouameni could help add more depth to the squad. A move such as this could potentially be even more beneficial should Saul Niguez return to Atletico Madrid after the end of his loan spell.

At 22, the French professional footballer still has a lot to give and could be a great long term asset provided that he develops well at the club. He has already played 80 games across all competition for the The Monégasques to date, bagging six goals and six assists in the process.

That being said, adapting to the conditions of the Premier League can be a tough task for any footballer who has plied his trade in another league for such a long time. In those respects Rice could be a safer bet due to the experience he possesses in England’s top-flight footballing competition.

More Chelsea News

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• Arsenal are said to have joined the race to sign Chelsea target and Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips
• Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are the latest clubs to monitor the situation of Chelsea loanee Armando Broja

Whilst there is nothing concrete as of yet, Thomas Tuchel would be looking to add more reinforcement to his squad after a relatively quiet time in the January transfer window. Aurelien Tchouameni could be a great addition to our current group of players but only time can tell whether or not the player will make way to Stamford Bridge.