Barcelona, Real Madrid and Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Youri Tielemans, valued at €40 million by Premier League bigwigs Leicester City.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Youri Tielemans is becoming one of the most highly sought-after players in the transfer market. Barcelona, Real Madrid and Arsenal are vying for the signature of the Belgian international, valued at around €40 million by Leicester City.
Youri Tielemans has stepped his game up several notches since joining Leicester City from AS Monaco. The 24-year-old initially arrived at the King Power Stadium in January 2019 on a loan deal before the Foxes signed him permanently six months later. And he has not looked back since, establishing himself as one of the best playmakers in the Premier League.
To date, the Belgian international has made 133 appearances for Leicester City, chipping in with 23 goals and 22 assists in the process. Tielemans’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Arsenal, setting their sights on him.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the uncertainties surrounding the future of Frenkie de Jong. The Blaugrana could sell the Dutch international in the summer transfer window to balance their books and fund transfers to initiate their squad overhaul. And Tielemans will be a like-for-like replacement for de Jong at Barcelona, with his €40 million price tag making him a relatively cheap replacement.
On the other hand, Real Madrid will have to lay down a succession plan for Luka Modric and Toni Kroos as the ageing stalwarts are approaching the final phase of their storied careers. And Tielemans is an ideal candidate to succeed Modric to that end, with Real Madrid reportedly ready to launch the offensive for him.
As for the interest from Arsenal, the Gunners lack a central midfielder who can create chances from a deeper position and contribute defensively. Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga all lack that dynamism in the middle of the park, which has hurt Arsenal in several games in the ongoing campaign.
In addition to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool are also keen on signing Tielemans, meaning a transfer battle could be on the cards for his services. With Brendan Rodgers suggesting that the 24-year-old playmaker could leave soon, it will not be surprising to see him join another Premier League bigwig or one of the two Spanish heavyweights in the summer.