The altogether miserable Sunday being endured by Liverpool has continued to worsen this evening, owing to the latest word surrounding the future of one of the club's priority summer transfer targets.
The player in question? Aurelien Tchouameni.
Midfielder Tchouameni, of course, has long been linked with a potential move to Anfield.
Having added ever-further to his already sterling reputation courtesy of a stellar campaign in France with Monaco, reports had begun to mount over recent months that the 22-year-old was set to be the subject of a big-money offer from the red half of Merseyside this summer.
This comes as Jurgen Klopp goes about refreshing an aging midfield, featuring a trio of players the wrong side of 30.
But, as alluded to above, if the latest word stemming from the media is anything to go by, then Tchouameni, in fact, appears primed to take his talents elsewhere ahead of next season.
Fresh off reports surfacing that the French international had agreed to personal terms with both Liverpool and Real Madrid, it has been revealed that Tchouameni has opted to link up with the latter.
As per the reliable Paul Gorst of the Liverpool Echo, the transfer team at Anfield have been informed by the midfielder's representatives that he is Bernabeu-bound:
'Tchouameni is currently represented by French agency Excellence Sports Nation and it is understood that ESN have informed Liverpool 's recruitment team that their client wants to sign for the 13-time European Cup winners later this year.'
City triumphant
Word of their pursuit of Tchouameni coming up short of course rounds out what has proven a frankly miserable day for all on the red half of Merseyside.
This comes with the hopes of Jurgen Klopp's men of keeping alive their pursuit of a historic quadruple having been brought to a definitive end by Manchester City.
Despite falling into a two-goal hole at the hands of Aston Villa, the Sky Blues battled back, to ultimately pip Liverpool to the Premier League title by a solitary point.
Not only that, but, less than a week out from the Champions League final, Thiago Alcantara also limped out of the club's meeting with Wolves owing to injury.