Brendan Rodgers has hinted for numerous months now that there will be a significant summer transfer overhaul at Leicester City both in and out. And, unfortunately for The Foxes, it seems inevitable that Belgian Youri Tielemans is to be part of it those leaving the club.
Reports have been increasingly growing since January that Mikel Arteta is very keen to make a move for the 25-year-old, who is about to enter the final year of his contract. The reported figure of this potential transaction would be in the area of £25million pounds.
Tielemans has been very reluctant to sign a new deal with the East Midlands side due to his aspirations of playing Champions League football next season. Arsenal finished fifth this season in the Premier League, two points behind North London rivals Spurs. Despite this, it does seem the midfield dynamo has his heart set on the London club.
During this last season, in spite of the constant noise around contract negotiations, the professionalism displayed by Belgium’s man was thoroughly exemplary as far as ‘BR’ has been concerned. The gaffer said this last week:
"“For me, he’s still the same guy, his professionalism is first-class. That’s why I always play him.”"
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The immense quality of Tielemans has never been in question from any Leicester fan, nor by the coaching staff. It was exemplified by his almost poetic long-range winning goal in the 1-0 win against Chelsea in the 2021 FA Cup final. This gave City a chance to lift the prestigious trophy for the very first time in the clubs history.
No LCFC fan will ever forget that memorable day, however one must ponder how the inevitability of leaving over the last 12 months has played on his mind, even if only subconsciously. This may have resulted at times in the Foxes No.8 playing within himself at stages throughout the course of the season. That would be in order to restrain himself from any serious injury that would in turn result in catastrophic consequences in his hope of a transfer to a “top” club.
Ultimately, this perception may have caused his price to drop even further than what, under typical circumstances, would be considered a £50m-to-£60m price tag. Whether that is true or not, the appeared drop off might not entirely be Tielemans’ fault. Wilfred Ndidi’s absence, as well as Rodgers’ willingness to use Boubakary Soumare, forced the Anderlecht graduate to exert a lot more energy on defensive duties
This expenditure unfortunately exposed ‘YT’s’ somewhat lack of mobility in the middle of the park. With all this being said, losing him will be a massive blow for next season’s push to make it back into to European football. Moving to what would seem to be a direct rival for a bargain price could be a determining factor in in this conquest.
The rise of this year’s club Player’s Player and Young Player of the Year Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has made the eminent departure of Tielemans slightly easier. Yet we are still losing a player with bundles of quality when given the proper role in a two-man pivot. The price we will be forced to sell him at means it is very unlikely the King Power side shall find a player with an equal level of ability and production for that amount of money.
Leicester City must use this situation as a learning curve and not allow their elite, sought after talent to enter the last year of their deal. Because it results in a club, who tend to conduct excellent transfer business, lose such players for massively reduced fees.