£49.5m star could emerge as De Jong alternative at Old Trafford – GiveMeSport

Manchester United could target Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, if the deal for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong breaks down, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Barcelona midfielder has been widely expected to join the Old Trafford club this summer, but Tielemans has also been linked with a move to the Manchester side this transfer window.

What’s the latest on Tielemans?

United are on ‘high alert’ after Arsenal’s interest in Tielemans has cooled, with Mikel Arteta’s side focused on other targets as of now, according to talkSPORT.

The same report suggests that the £49.5m-rated maestro’s move to the Gunners was expected to be completed by now, however Arteta’s side’s failure to secure a Champions League place for the upcoming season has led to a change of heart from the Leicester star.

And talkSPORT also claim that Erik ten Hag is a big fan of the 25-year-old midfielder, suggesting that a move could be a possibility should the proposed de Jong deal fall through.

Romano believes that whilst de Jong is the primary target for the Red Devils at the moment, their focus could turn to Tielemans should they not get the aforementioned deal over the line.

What has Romano said about Tielemans?

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Now they’re focusing on Frenkie [de Jong] but we have to see what happens with this negotiation for him on the player’s side with the personal terms.

“So, in the case that the Frenkie deal does not go through, Tielemans could be one of the most interesting options for Manchester United and for many other clubs.”

Would Tielemans be a good alternative for Manchester United?

Though the signing of de Jong is clearly United’s first choice midfield addition, judging by the length of time they have scouted and negotiated for the player, Tielemans could prove to be an excellent addition if push came to shove.

The 52-time Belgium international already has the best part of four season’s worth of Premier League experience under his belt, and made 50 appearances for Leicester last season, scoring seven goals and providing five assists, according to Transfermarkt.

Tielemans is also an exceptional passer of the ball, and likes to get the ball up the pitch, ranking in the top 12% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues and European competition for progressive passes per 90 minutes last season (5.80) according to FBref.

And an average SofaScore rating of 7.08 for the Belgian’s Premier League performances last season suggest that when called upon by Brendan Rodgers, he has put in consistently solid performances over the course of the last campaign in English football’s top-flight.

Whilst de Jong may be ten Hag’s first choice this season, the disappointment at not securing the signature of the Dutchman would be lessened somewhat by the signing of Tielemans.

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