Aurelien Tchouameni is not expected to leave Real Madrid this summer. Let’s be clear.
However, according to journalist Miguel Serrano, as relayed in Defensa Central, there is one scenario that could force the club to reconsider, and they already know who they would look to as his replacement.
The French midfielder has been the subject of speculation in recent months, with Manchester United among the clubs keeping an eye on his situation.
Real Madrid, however, have no intention of opening the door for Tchouameni after his recent contract renewal.
That is the current position at Valdebebas.
But transfer plans can change quickly when extraordinary money enters the conversation, and Serrano claims that Real Madrid would only consider selling the Frenchman if an offer arrives that is simply too large to ignore.
And should that unlikely situation unfold, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has emerged as the preferred option to take his place.
Tchouameni stays – unless the offer changes everything
Real Madrid are not actively looking to sell Tchouameni. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)
The key detail in this story is that Real Madrid are not actively considering a Tchouameni sale.
His future has generated speculation throughout the summer, particularly because of reported interest from Manchester United.
Yet Real Madrid’s stance appears to be clear: the midfielder remains part of their plans and his recent contract renewal only strengthens that position.
Miguel Serrano summed up the situation by saying, “Real Madrid isn’t considering letting Tchouameni leave unless they receive an irresistible offer, and their top target is Adam Wharton.”
That leaves very little room for interpretation.
Real Madrid are not looking to sell. They are not searching for a replacement. And Wharton is not being pursued because the club expects Tchouameni to walk out of the Santiago Bernabeu.
Instead, the English midfielder appears to be part of a contingency plan.
Adam Wharton would be Tchouameni’s replacement at Real Madrid. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Serrano also explained the scale of the offer that would be needed to change Real Madrid’s mind: “if a team goes crazy and pays a fortune, they’ll let him go.”
In other words, the Frenchman would only become available if an offer exceeds the amount paid for Yan Diomande, making such a proposal difficult to imagine.
Wharton is the name waiting in the background
This is where Wharton enters the picture.
Real Madrid have identified the Crystal Palace midfielder as their preferred option if Tchouameni were to leave.
Notably, the Real Madrid squad already has significant depth in midfield, and adding another major signing without making space could create more problems than solutions.
A Tchouameni departure, on the other hand, would change the equation immediately and Wharton would then become a possible replacement rather than another expensive addition.
For now, though, that remains a hypothetical scenario.