According to Sky Sports, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on securing the services of AS Monaco’s Youri Tielemans. It is believed that Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele is apparently their main target this summer. But, Tielemans could be a decent alternative, should they fail to sign the Frenchman or the Lilywhites could even sign both, provided one of their midfielders leave the club.
Tielemans’ immense success in the Premier League
After struggling to make a mark at Monaco, Tielemans joined Leicester City in January on a short-term loan deal. And the Belgian was quick to leave his mark in what is considered as the most competitive league in the world.
Indeed, the Belgian international became a regular in the Leicester City lineup and built a formidable midfield partnership with Wilfred Ndidi. He offered the much-needed stability in midfield, which allowed the likes of James Maddison to become much more expressive in the final third.
Tielemans was also quite productive, scoring three and registering five assists in 13 matches, helping the Foxes finish inside the top half of the league table.
What can Tielemans add to the table?
Tielemans is an all-round midfielder, who can not only provide extensive attacking support in the final third but is also aware of his defensive duties. The young midfielder is mainly known for his aggression and work-ethic as well as his willingness to win back possession. He has averaged 1.3 successful tackles per game in the recently concluded Premier League campaign.
However, what makes Tielemans such a sought-after midfielder in Europe is his long-range shooting prowess. Indeed, the 22-year-old has a vicious right-foot and is more than capable of scoring goals from range. Hence, it comes as no surprise as to why he averaged 1.8 shots per game from outside the box this past season.
Should Tottenham make a move for Tielemans?
Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted with the potential addition of Tielemans given his side’s recent struggles in the midfield department, mainly due to injuries. The Belgian, could, therefore, offer him with additional depth in midfield that could serve him well, especially considering his tendency to rotate his squad week in week out.
One could even be forgiven to think that Tielemans would be a better option than Ndombele. The former RSC Anderlecht prodigy has already impressed in the Premier League and is unlikely to take too much time in settling into life at Tottenham. He is also available for a reported fee of just £40 million, which is relatively cheaper than what Ndombele will likely cost this summer – thus making him an ideal signing for Spurs.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
