According to Daily Star, Manchester United have submitted a £36 million bid for Youri Tielemans this summer. The AS Monaco midfielder is being considered as a potential replacement for Paul Pogba after the Frenchman voiced his wish to look for a new challenge elsewhere.
However, the Red Devils could face fierce competition from cross-town rivals Manchester City as well as Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur in the pursuit of this highly talented midfielder. Leicester City are also keen on bringing the Belgian back to the King Power Stadium next season.
What can Tielemans bring to the table?
Tielemans has enjoyed a massive rise in his stock following his remarkable performances with Leicester City during the second half of the recently concluded Premier League campaign. The former Anderlecht prodigy built a solid midfield partnership with Wilfred Ndidi, thereby helping the Foxes finish ninth in the league table.
The Belgian’s aggression and willingness to win back possession for his team were critical to Leicester’s success under Brendan Rodgers, although it was Ndidi who mainly did the dirty work. Tielemans also used his composure and technical ability to add more assurance during Leicester’s possession phases – making them a much more complete side.
But, what made Tielemans a tailor-made fit in the Premier League is his athleticism and long-range shooting prowess. Indeed, the 22-year-old has a vicious right-foot that allows him to test the ‘keeper even from a considerable distance. He notably averaged 1.8 shots from outside the box per game this past season.
Aside from that, the Monaco midfielder can cover a lot of ground and is adept in making driving runs into the final third – making him a complete package in the middle of the park.
Why Tielemans will be an ideal replacement for Pogba
As discussed earlier, Tielemans is known for his athleticism and overall work-ethic that could make him a viable target for Manchester United. Although he won’t be a like for like replacement for Pogba given his lack of ball carrying or long-passing ability, his all-round qualities in midfield would make United much more dynamic and vigilant in midfield while being less reliant on specific individuals.
Indeed, Tielemans is a team player, which certainly tunes in well with Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer and the fact that he is trying to build a team around young players, with room to improve next season. The Belgian, in that regard, will be a smart long-term investment for the Red Devils as they aim to get back among the European elites under Solskjaer.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
