Youri Tielemans is keen to leave Aston Villa in January amid a lack of playing time and a reported rift with manager Unai Emery.
According to Football Insider, Youri Tielemans could end his short spell at Aston Villa as soon as January to seek a move away from the club. The 26-year-old summer signing remains an unhappy figure amid a lack of playing time and a reported rift with manager Unai Emery.
Youri Tielemans left Leicester City in the summer, and many earmarked the Belgian to join a Champions League club. A host of clubs had maintained an interest, but the likes of Arsenal, for instance, who were keen for a long time, looked away from the free agent.
Manchester United and Newcastle United were also keen on the 26-year-old. But Aston Villa ended up signing the Belgian on a free transfer. But after arriving at Villa Park with the promise of playing a big role with the Villans under Unai Emery, things have panned out differently for the midfielder.
Emery has stuck to his tried and tested midfield pairing of Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara. Tielemans has played every game in the Premier League as a substitute, with all his five starts coming either in the EFL Cup or UEFA Europa Conference League ties.
During September’s international break, Tielemans expressed unhappiness at his role at the club and expected more to come in the later period. Yet, Emery has not changed his personnel, and there is a looming threat the midfielder could get phased out owing to a reported rift with the Spanish manager.
Overall, it appears there are problems in the background with the midfielder, who had hoped to have a bigger impact coming to the club. Emery has plenty of options and has had no reasons to drop his current midfield pair in favour of the 26-year-old summer signing.
Alternatively, there are reports that Emery is already looking for a new midfielder amid links to Dani Ceballos, who he coached while at Arsenal. If the Spaniard arrives or someone else does, then it casts a big shadow on Tielemans’ long-term future.
Aston Villa could sell the midfielder for a decent amount, which would represent total profit after his free transfer. If things do not change, Tielemans could push to leave the club in January in search of regular game time elsewhere.
