Liverpool and Manchester City will reportedly have to battle it out for Leicester City playmaker Youri Tielemans, who could leave the club in the summer.
According to Fichajes, Youri Tielemans may have to decide between joining Liverpool or Manchester City when he decides to depart Leicester City. The Belgian playmaker is widely expected to depart the King Power Stadium in the summer, as the Premier League giants circle for his signature.
Since arriving from AS Monaco, the Belgian midfielder has become a key part of Brendan Rodgers’s Leicester City side. The 24-year-old is revered for his skills on the ball and ability to control proceedings in midfield. He is expected to take the next step in his career by joining a bigger side.
Leicester have been hoping to agree a new deal with the midfielder before eventually letting him go for a big transfer fee. However, their plans were shot down by Tielemans’s refusal to entertain contract extension talks as he enters the final 18 months on his current deal.
Talk of a move to Arsenal picked up earlier this month, with Leicester reportedly open to the idea of letting him go. However, the Gunners have since cooled their interest, which could open the door for long-term admirers Liverpool and Manchester City to make their move, possibly in the summer.
Leicester will look to extract top value for the playmaker, although they will have to cave in and accept a reasonable market price considering Tielemans will have just 12 months left on his deal in the summer. From the look of things, it seems Manchester City and Liverpool will have to battle it out for the Belgian international, who has a big decision to make.
Liverpool have been chasing the Belgian since last summer and they could finally make their move at the end of the season. Jurgen Klopp is looking to refresh his midfield options by bringing in Tielemans as a possible replacement for Naby Keita, who could depart in the summer.
Tielamans suits Klopp’s system as the German manager values his capabilities in the engine room and the skills to carry the ball in midfield. The Reds are reportedly ready to pay €40 million to sign the Belgian playmaker, although it remains to be seen if the offer meets Leicester’s valuation.
Pep Guardiola has been an admirer of talents such as Tielemans and could ask his club to make a reasonable offer in the summer. Manchester City are not necessarily looking at the Belgian to replace one of their current incumbents, but to add his quality to the current squad.
The race to sign the 24-year-old playmaker is expected to pick up pace in the summer, with the two Premier League giants expected to make their presence felt. Tielemans will have a big decision to make for his next destination and will possibly have to choose between Manchester City and Liverpool to further his career.
