Sanctions to blame as frontrunners Chelsea drop out of race for France gem

Chelsea were the ‘best placed team’ to sign France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni before sanctions ruined their chances, according to reports.

The central midfielder has been a regular in the Monaco team for the past three seasons, despite only recently turning 22. His contract with the French outfit runs until 2024, although they are preparing to lose him this summer.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool are all vying for Tchouameni’s services. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain could also come in for him.

The interested clubs were put on alert earlier this month as Monaco reportedly dropped their asking price.

It has previously been set at £50million, but they will now be willing to sell for £42m. The reason for the change is not clear. However, it is certainly good news for the potential suitors.

Chelsea may look to Tchouameni as a successor for N’Golo Kante. He is a different player to his older compatriot but still provides plenty of protection for the defence, plus energy in midfield.

United and Liverpool are also hoping to improve their respective midfields, hence the pursuit of Tchouameni.

The Daily Express, who cite Spanish outlet Marca, provide more information on Chelsea’s pursuit of the eight-cap international.

They claim the Blues were the team ‘in the best place’ to land Tchouameni at one point. This came from Thomas Tuchel’s personal push for a new addition in midfield.

However, following sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea are out of the race. The UK Government’s ruling means they cannot buy new players or agree new contracts with stars this summer.

As such, Tchouameni will not be arriving at Stamford Bridge this year, unless a drastic change occurs. The west London outfit also run