Leicester City should definitely smash their transfer record for Youri Tielemans

Signing Youri Tielemans on a permanent basis in the summer is exactly the type of move Leicester City need to complete in order to achieve the club’s ambitions.

It’s evident whilst watching Leicester City that a target man is a necessary missing link, during some exciting but scoreless plays. At the least, the Foxes require a viable ‘big man’, ‘super-substitute’ forward option. Oh, and the prospective player must be proven in the Premier League. Easy:

Jamie Vardy is still the main man at the King Power Stadium; and more likely to remain a Fox this summer due to Brendan Rodgers’ arrival. Kelechi Iheanacho has shown signs of improvement of late; while he will need a regular starting place in the side to show his true pedigree.

One area in which Leicester City have refined in the past few weeks is centre-midfield. Loanee Youri Tielemans’ effortlessly impassive introduction into frantic premiership pace came against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley. He didn’t bat an eyelash.

Really, the Belgian slipped unnerving into the role like a glove. Consequently the upgrade in the middle contributed to many believing the Foxes may have gotten all three points versus a great Spurs outfit. Unfortunately, they did not. Although a spark ignited in the middle of the park.

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Cambiasso-esque influence

This writer described Tielemans’ impact as comparable to the functionality, deft quality and vision similar to the veteran Esteban Cambiasso’s influence on Nigel Pearson’s Foxes, in the Great Escape season of 2014/15. So wonderful the Argentine was, that the Blue Army were desperate for him to stay. He did not, moving to Greece.

Alas an ironic aspect was that Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante contributed vastly to the title win without the masterful Cambiasso, during a magical 2015/16 campaign. Now there is another all-action battling, but supremely talented player in a role which is reminiscent.

Argentina’s former favourite and the ex-Anderlecht midfielder conduct elegantly; also tellingly leaping into a challenge or interception as honourable team players, where necessary. Often this type of selflessness enables the freedom of other talents such as James Maddison to do their damage.

There’s also a major goal threat – sadly the Leicester faithful haven’t quite witnessed that end product from their new hero, yet. However, he certainly has goalscoring skill readily awaiting in the locker; along with the AS Monaco man’s keen eye for the key or assist pass.

Tielemans’ slide-rule delicate touch through for Vardy’s finish on Sunday in the Watford contest was expertly weighted. Goals will come too soon.

To be or not to be

So he’s only on loan. Can the happy ending materialise for Leicester City here, via a permanent summer transfer? Maybe: the chances of the World Cup experienced 21-year-old – whom made his Champions League debut at age-16 – staying, have improved.

This is partly due to Brendan Rodgers‘ effect on the status of the club, as a manager players want to work under: pulling power is important in football. In addition a player of this stature committing their future would in turn encourage interest of quality on the same high level.

Monaco’s results are steadily gaining momentum which could obviously work in the Foxes’ favour as well. Not to mention Tielemans’ apparent happiness in the English top-flight.

Telegraph Sport states that it will take a hefty fee of £40 million to guarantee the Belgium international’s signature. In fact that hypothetically smashes the preexisting Foxes record signing Islam Slimani, by a reported £12m. Foxes of Leicester can almost taste Europa League qualification – if the capture of Tielemans becomes reality.