Julian Ward is back at Anfield after more than three years away, and Aurélien Tchouaméni is already on his desk. According to reporting from Graeme Bailey at TeamTalk, Liverpool have kept the lines of communication open with the 26-year-old midfielder, even after his summer contract renewal in Madrid.

There is no active pursuit. Ward’s club is not making an offer, and Real Madrid have shown no willingness to sell. But the interest that Ward carried into his first spell as sporting director in 2022, when Liverpool bid for Tchouaméni before Monaco sold him to Real Madrid, has followed him back to Merseyside.

Liverpool confirmed Ward’s return in late September, replacing Richard Hughes, who left for Al-Hilal. Ward now works alongside head coach Andoni Iraola, appointed on 4 June to succeed Arne Slot.

Tchouaméni renewed until 2031

The chance to prise Tchouaméni loose looked bigger in the summer, when Manchester United had made him a priority and Liverpool were talking to Real Madrid about a potential deal. Then José Mourinho intervened.

Read also: Verstappen admits title dream is over after near-miss in Baku

Mourinho, named Real Madrid head coach on a three-year contract on 11 June, sat down with Tchouaméni and set out a plan to build his midfield around the France international alongside Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde. Weeks later, Tchouaméni agreed a new contract through 2031 on a reported net salary of around €9m a season.

The condition Liverpool are watching

There is one route for Ward to reopen a real conversation. According to Bailey, Tchouaméni “would not be prepared to accept a role as merely a squad player at the Santiago Bernabeu”.

That scenario looks distant. Tchouaméni has started Real Madrid’s last two La Liga matches under Mourinho and remains central to the Portuguese manager’s midfield project.

No bid this month

TeamTalk report that Real Madrid would demand a huge fee if any serious approach arrived, and no bid has been made this month.

Read also: LeBron opens up on 76ers move: 'I'm living in the moment'

Every claim linking Liverpool to Tchouaméni traces back to Bailey and Pete O’Rourke at TeamTalk. Neither club has commented publicly, and Mourinho has given no indication he is willing to lose a midfielder he personally talked into staying.

Read also: Season 24, a new jersey and one clear message from LeBron: he did not come to Philadelphia to lose