Chelsea have made an approach for Juventus and Roma target Youri Tielemans, according to reports
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Chelsea will make a move for highly-rated Anderlecht midfielder Youri Tielemans this summer. They state that Chelsea have made contact with Anderlecht already over a deal in the summer and that the Belgian club’s sporting director Herman Van Holsebeeck has indicated that they are willing to do business.
The 19-year old is a product of Anderlecht’s youth academy and is considered one of the most promising young players in the world. Tielemans has already been called up to the Belgian national side despite their wealth of midfielders, which is an indicator of just how highly rated he is in Belgium.
A well-rounded player with fantastic passing ability and an eye for goal, Tielemans has been one of Anderlecht’s best players this season with 17 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions – stunning figures for a 19-year old.
It is no surprise, then, that Tielemans has been linked with some of the biggest clubs around the world and it was always only a matter of time until the youngster made a move to a bigger league. It appears that time has now come, with the midfielder himself admitting he could leave at the end of the season.
Juventus had reportedly opened talks with Anderlecht over a potential deal for Tielemans already, with the Bianconeri continuing their policy of recruiting some of the best young talent across the continent.
Claudio Marchisio is nearing the end of his career and has had an injury-plagued couple of seasons while Sami Khedira could also be on his way out of Turin come the end of the season, and Juventus have reportedly identified Tielemans as a potential replacement.
Roma have also been linked with a move for the Belgian which comes as no surprise, given the club’s tendency to sign young, promising players over the last couple of seasons. Radja Nainggolan has been linked with a move away from the club and the Italians could look to Tielemans as a replacement for his compatriot.
Chelsea could also lose Cesc Fabregas this summer and regardless of whether or not the Spaniard stays, the Blues could still use reinforcements in midfield.
Should TuttoMercatoWeb’s reports be true, Chelsea will definitely be the overwhelming favourites to sign the Belgian as the Blues can easily beat both the Italian clubs when it comes to a bidding war, something that Anderlecht will likely actively encourage.