Youri Tielemans has told Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag exactly what he wants to hear
Tielemans is available on a free transfer after announcing his departure from Leicester City in a summer where Manchester United have to manage their finances carefully.
With Erik ten Hag still uncertain about the budget he will get this summer, the Manchester United manager could be preparing a budget signing list.
Whichever way the takeover process takes, United will face financial fair play rules after spending £225m last year. This means more outflows than inflows, with outflows funding inflows.
Ten Hag are keen to bring in both a new midfielder and great forward and the list of names connected is long. Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Alexis Mac Allister are just a few.
Many clubs will be chasing those stars too, with even more clubs being relegated from the Premier League this season. Leicester playmaker James Maddison is the big name, while James Ward-Prowse is sure to leave Southampton.
Leeds’ Tyler Adams will also turn heads. One man in that relegated cohort has been linked sporadically with United in recent years. Youri Tielemans has been touted mainly for a move to Old Trafford following Leicester’s FA Cup triumph. The Belgian, now 26, has announced his inevitable exit from the King Power Stadium.
Confirming his departure on Instagram, he wrote: “Dear Leicester City fans, After 4.5 special years and with immense gratitude I say goodbye to this amazing club.”
“We shared many special moments together. I am eternally grateful for your unwavering support. Thanks to Khun Top, the board, staff, players and fans for giving me and my family a home. This is not goodbye, but a heartfelt goodbye.”
Tielemans sees his contract expire next month and has plenty of opportunities at his feet. It remains to be seen whether Ten Hag will be among those making an offer, but the news of his availability is tantalizing.
The Dutchman has already shown his interest in a deal with Bosman and Christian Eriksen is a fruitful signing for United. Tielemans would be similarly low risk football and he would fill the gap left by Fred should he leave for Fulham or further away. No decision has yet been made whether Marcel Sabitzer will be signed on a permanent basis following his loan spell from Bayern Munich, but the lack of rumors about the possibility looks ominous for the Austrian.
Tielemans would be an upgrade from Sabitzer with many years ahead of him in his career, which cannot be said of Eriksen, who is now 31.
The question is whether Ten Hag believes Tielemans has enough quality to impress United with his signing to top up the wage budget, which needs to be managed carefully across FFP.
But the director is an attractive option on a day off and has given Ten Hag the food for thought he craved for a great summer.
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Phil Jones’ departure could allow Mason Mount to get his preferred shirt number at Manchester United
Mason Mount could be a Manchester United player next season after agreeing personal terms with the Reds.
Mason Mount could get his preferred Manchester United shirt number if his transfer offer goes ahead, but there will be some red tape the England international will have to deal with first.
Mount, 24, is preparing to leave Stamford Bridge when the transfer market reopens and United are in pole position to win the race to sign him. Mount’s representatives – Father Tony and agent Neil Fewings – had advanced talks with key people at Old Trafford and settled key details.
As things stand, there is no agreement between the clubs on a fee and so United will have to wait a while before Mount is possibly unveiled as their first signing for the summer. However, it appears they have a free run on the Chelsea midfielder.
Arsenal and Liverpool would be interested. However, as they prepare to rack up more numbers in the boardroom, United megastore staff can also check their warehouse to see exactly what letters and numbers they have in the building for Mount’s expected arrival.
Over the course of his Chelsea career, the 36-capped England international wore the number 19, which is also the shirt he wore during a previous loan spell at Vitesse, and for England at two major tournaments. In this respect it could normally be an easy decision for him. However, former Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is currently given this particular squad number. However, Varane could opt for a move to number four this summer as United prepare to bid farewell to long-serving centre-back Phil Jones when his contract expires. Varane wore number four at Real Madrid and the France national team before retiring from the national team.