Chelsea and Manchester City have each been dealt a blow to their transfer plans after Real Madrid stepped up their efforts to land AS Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni and teenage sensation Endrick.
Tchouameni has been earmarked as a long-term replacement for N’Golo Kante after impressing for the Ligue 1 outfit and is already a senior international for France with seven caps.
The 22-year-old is thought to be a summer target for Thomas Tuchel’s side and could cost in the region of £35million.
Manchester United have also been linked with the tireless midfielder as Ralf Rangnick searches for reinforcements.
But according to reports in Spain, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti sees Tchouameni as a 'specialist' addition to the base of his midfield.
Real only signed 18-year-old Eduardo Camavinga in the summer, but the Frenchman is not yet ready to command a regular place in the La Liga giants’ midfield ahead of Luka Modric or Toni Kroos.
Marca suggest that Tchouameni and his agent Jonathan Kebe have received several approaches, but favour a move to the Santiago Bernabeu due to the club’s long-standing interest in the player since his days at Bordeaux.
A report from Spanish outlet SoyMadridsta suggests chief scout Juni Calafat has flown to Monaco to take a closer look at the player ahead of a potential summer bid.
That could force Tuchel to look elsewhere for his successor to Kante, who has struggled with knocks and muscle injuries this season and completed the full 90 minutes in a game on just five occasions this season.
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Elsewhere, Man City also appear to be losing the battle to convince 15-year-old wonderkid Endrick to choose the Etihad Stadium over a move to Spain.
The Brazilian starlet is being hailed as the nation’s next big talent after making his senior debut for Palmeiras late last year, earning rave reviews after scoring an incredible bicycle kick for the Serie A outfit.
The Premier League champions are thought to have registered their interest along with Chelsea and Liverpool, while Man United have been mentioned due to the player's admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo.
But it seems Barcelona and Real Madrid will be going head-to-head in their battle to clinch the young winger’s signature, with Marca claiming Palmeiras may demand at least €30m (£25m) for a compulsory purchase option to sign him in the future.
Real have unearthed talent from the South American nation in recent years such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Reinier Jesus.
And that could help Los Blancos convince Endrick to join them ahead of the Blaugrana, who may struggle to fund the deal amid the club's vulnerable financial situation.
Under FIFA rules, the Alviverde wonderkid would not be allowed to leave for Europe until his 18th birthday, which is not until July 2024.
But after missing out on Neymar to Barca in 2010, Real will be determined to get the better of their rivals in their latest transfer tussle, leaving Chelsea and Man United resigned to losing out on their targets.
