Arsenal have been dealt a potential Youri Tielemans blow as it has emerged that the Belgian midfielder would prefer a move to Spain over remaining in England his summer should the option become available.
The Leicester City central midfielder is set to leave the King Power Stadium this summer, with just one year left to run on his contract in the midlands at the end of this season and no signs that he is planning on penning a new one.
This means that he will be available at a cut-price, with a fee as low as £25m even being mentioned for the 24-year-old, who is valued at double that by transfermarkt.
Youri Tielemans of Leicester City scores their team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Watford at The King Power Stadium on January 08, 2022 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
That has unsurprisingly caught the eye of many Premier League clubs, with Arsenal and Liverpool just two of those thought to be keen on the Belgian star this summer.
However, there is a problem. As per Belgian football journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Tielemans has already told those closest to him that he would prefer a move to Spain over remaining in England this summer.
He claims that ‘Youri Tielemans told those around him his preference for a departure to Spain’, something which means that the likes of both Madrid sides and Barcelona will surely be taking notice.
In the case of Los Blancos, it could be a formality, with Tavolieri adding that ‘Real Madrid, interested, could position themselves concretely in the coming weeks’.
It would come as a blow to sides looking to add a quality midfielder on the cheap this summer, but could be a massive unexpected boost for Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti, as they would snag a man destined to play at the top of world football at a bargain price.
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