Real Madrid are prepared to deliver Chelsea a double transfer blow with the first setback already confirmed regarding the future of Eden Hazard.
Hazard, 31, has dropped many hints over the last few months with current manager Carlo Ancelotti that has hinted at potential unrest in the Spanish capital including his toned down reaction to the Supercopa win over Athletic Bilbao a few weeks ago.
With the Belgian reportedly rejecting a proposed move to Newcastle, there was some hope that a return to west London was on his mind but this wasn't to be the case.
This is according to Spanish outlet Marca who has titled their latest update on the situation 'Hazard prefers to wait' when translated to English.
The report goes on to add that he doesn't have too many 'proposals' on the table to ponder with.
Marca wrote: "His performance has declined since that fatal kick from Meunier and, despite constant rumours, he is not an option for Chelsea, with whom he has a very close relationship. Nor for the new Newcastle, which is looking for another profile to try to save the category.
"And, of course, the attacker's high salary does not make it easy for him to fit into a hypothetical destination."
On top of this, manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed with his one line update: "Hazard is in our plans for the next season, I can confirm."
A summer exit for the Red Devils international seems likely but by that time, more clubs could enter the race for the 31-year-old meaning that the chances of a move back to the English capital fade as time flies by.
That itself is bad enough but the news of Thibaut Courtois' club wanting to hijack the Blues' proposed plans to sign a player touted as N'Golo Kante's successor makes for worse reading for the Chelsea faithful who are anticipating a busy summer, especially considering the lack of perceived backing manager Thomas Tuchel has received this month.
According to Marca, Real Madrid are preparing to send club officials over to Monte Carlo to initiate talks and plans to sign a player that has been highly rated by the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Paul Pogba in the past.
The article reads as translated to English: "Real Madrid seems to have defined its first goal for the 22-23 season and this is none other than Frenchman Aurélien Tchouameni.
'"Juni Calafat has travelled to Monegasque lands to continue with what was already done months ago.
"As reported by Miguel Queipo in SoyMadridista , the head of the white club's scouting department has been in Monaco for two days talking to the player's entourage and knowing first-hand the details of the operation."
This specific piece then goes on to clarify that their interest started when his emergence was known in Didier Deschamps' Nations League squad that ended up claiming the illustrious trophy a few months ago.
Additionally, Florentino Perez and co have been quoted a £50million (€60million) asking price for a player they view as Casemiro's natural heir.
Both Chelsea and Real Madrid have had good working relationships with Monaco in the past.
The Tiemoue Bakayoko and James Rodriguez moves mean that it certainly is an even playing field as to who will come out on top in this tense and competitive transfer race for Monaco's number 8 - a move that could dominate a large proportion of the summer transfer window.
On the contrary, as per the Mirror, Tchouameni and his agent Jonathan Kebe apparently favour a move to the Santiago Bernabeu due to Los Blancos' long-standing interest in the 22-year-old that stems back to his early Bordeaux days.
But remember, Chelsea may hold a slight advantage in the fact Kebe is also the agent of another Blues target in the form of Jules Kounde and with it being reported that the side from SW6 are going to try again for the Sevilla man in the summer, anything can still happen regarding Tchouameni's precarious situation- it's not set in stone at all regarding where he will end up at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
