Manchester City and Liverpool reportedly open talks over deal for £42m-rated Monaco starlet

France's midfielder Paul Pogba (R) reacts as he speaks with France's midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni (L) at the end of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group D football match between France and Bosnia-Herzegovina, at the Meineau stadium in Strasbourg, eastern France, on September 1, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have reportedly both joined the race to sign Aurelien Tchouameni.

TuttoJuve claim that Manchester City and Liverpool are two of the teams from a handful of European giants that have opened talks over a deal for the Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

The 21-year-old’s impressive form has caught the eye of a number of clubs and the two Premier League sides are preparing to battle it out among Europe’s most elite to sign him – with Monaco setting an asking price of £42 million.

Angers' French-Portuguese midfielder Mathias Pereira Lage fights for the ball with Monaco's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni during the French L1 football match between Angers (SCO) and Monaco (AS) at the Raymond Kopa Stadium in Angers, western France, on April 25, 2021. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

Who is Aurelien Tchouameni?

Aurelien Tchouameni joined Monaco from Bordeaux in January 2020 for a reported fee of around £16 million.

The midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough season during the 2020/21 campaign – making 36 appearances in Ligue 1, scoring twice and assisting another three.

Tchouameni also made four appearances in the Champions League this season - scoring his first goal of the campaign in a 2-0 win over Sparta Prague.

The 21-year-old’s club form was rewarded with a call-up to the France national team in August of this year and he later made his international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina in September.

Monaco's French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni (R) fights for the ball with Sparta Tomas Wiesner (L) during the Champions League match Q3 football match between AS Monaco and AC Sparta Praha at "Louis II" stadium in Monaco, on August 10, 2021. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

Who else is in the race to sign Tchouameni?

Manchester City and Liverpool have both reportedly opened talks over a deal for Tchouameni and have enquired about his price-tag, however Chelsea are thought to be leading the race.

Thomas Tuchel’s side are prepared to pay as much as £51 million to secure Aurelien Tchouameni – £9 million more than Monaco’s asking price.

It has also been reported that, outside of England, Juventus and Real Madrid are keen on the Frenchman.