Real Madrid are reportedly ready to part ways with Aurelien Tchouameni and could offer the midfielder as part of a deal to sign Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.
Tchouameni joined Los Blancos for around £85m from Monaco in the summer of 2022 and has since made 102 first-team appearances in all competitions.
The 24-year-old had a few short spells on the sidelines with niggling injuries last season, but he still played 38 times for Carlo Ancelotti's side that won the La Liga title, Champions League and Supercopa de Espana.
Tchouameni has since started 13 of Real Madrid's 15 matches across all tournaments so far this season, primarily operating as a defensive midfielder or on a couple of occasions in central defence.
Although the Frenchman has featured regularly under Ancelotti this term, Spanish news outlet Relevo claims that Real Madrid are open to selling the midfielder, who is said to have now fallen out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu following a drop-off in form.
Tchouameni out, Fernandez in at Real Madrid?
The report adds that while Ancelotti retains the faith in Tchouameni and believes that he is the club's best option to play as a midfield pivot, the club's hierarchy are more convinced by Eduardo Camavinga and are now willing to sanction a move for the former, who was once considered unsellable.
A separate report from Fichajes claims that Real Madrid could use Tchouameni in a deal to prise Chelsea star Fernandez away from Stamford Bridge.
Los Blancos are willing to pay around €100m (£84.4m) for Fernandez, but they would be required to sell Tchouameni or use him in a part-exchange offer.
If it became apparent that Real Madrid would look to sell Tchouameni, that could alert Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool who have been linked with the midfielder.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are understood to have held an interest in Tchouameni before he completed a big-money move to Real Madrid, but whether they wish to reignite that interest in the near future remains unknown.
Could Fernandez really leave Chelsea for Real Madrid?
The West Londoners are not thought to be actively looking to sell Fernandez, who has made 74 appearances for the Premier League club in all competitions since completing a £107m transfer from Benfica in January 2023, chipping in with seven goals and six assists.
However, Fichajes claims that the 23-year-old Argentina international could be looking for a 'change of scenery' due to his current lack of game time under Enzo Maresca and also a 'lack of progress in the London team's project'.
Fernandez still has over seven years remaining on his contract with the Blues, who also have Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Cesare Casadei among their central midfield options.
Chelsea's No.8 is not the only midfielder on Real Madrid's radar, as it has also been reported by Relevo that the Spanish giants could step up their interest in Manchester City's Rodri if they were to let Tchouameni leave the club.
