CHELSEA target Aurelien Tchouameni will be ‘as expensive as the Grand Casino’, warns Monaco chief Paul Mitchell.
The French side’s sporting director has also likened the midfielder to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
Tchouameni, 21, has been heavily linked with a number of top teams around Europe, including Thomas Tuchel‘s Blues.
But Mitchell has confirmed that he won’t come cheap.
The former Tottenham head of recruitment told Tuttosport: “He is a complete midfielder, very fast and physically strong, he reminds me of Steven Gerrard.
“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.
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“Everything is expensive in Monte Carlo, let’s say that Tchouameni is as expensive as the Grand Casino.”
In addition to Chelsea, Tchouameni has found himself linked with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Although Juventus have reportedly dropped out of the race.
Tchouameni joined Monaco from Bordeaux in January 2020, penning a four-and-a-half year contract taking him to 2024.
He has since made 71 appearances for the Monegasques, scoring five goals and laying on four assists.
France boss Didier Deschamps has been impressed by Tchouameni’s progress, with the starlet having earned seven caps for Les Bleus in 2021.
Chelsea were also linked with the highly-rated youngster in the summer.
But they instead opted to sign Saul Niguez on loan from Atletico Madrid, in a so-far disastrous move.
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