Youri Tielemans could provide Tottenham Hotspur with the goals and assists that they have been lacking since the departure of Christian Eriksen…
What’s the word?
According to transfer insider Dean Jones, the Leicester City dynamo has been put on a shortlist of potential midfield options, with the former Danish playmaker also among the options.
Signing another midfielder, following the arrival of Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus in January, appears to be one of four main areas that the club is looking to strengthen.
Arch-rivals Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the Belgian, who is thought to be expendable at the King Power Stadium this summer. He could command a fee in the region of £25m.
Midfield monster
Indeed, the north Londoners have struggled to provide creativity and threat from attacking midfield ever since Eriksen swapped N17 for Inter Milan – indeed, it was Conte who signed him at the San Siro.
Whilst a romantic return would be of appeal to many associated with Tottenham, it is perhaps Tielemans who the club should opt for instead.
The Italian’s current system does not cater for an out-and-out no.10 but rather two deeper-lying midfielders, one of which could be more of a roaming playmaker or a box-to-box type.
Should Spurs splash out £25m on Tielemans?
This is where the Foxes man fits the bill more than Eriksen.
The £49.5m-rated maestro ended the 2021/22 campaign as Brendan Rodgers’ sixth-best performer in the Premier League, whilst across all competitions, he delivered seven goals and five assists, adding to his total of 15 goal contributions last term, which included an FA Cup final game-winning effort.
According to The Athletic’s Rob Tanner, Tielemans has often been regarded as a “creator” in this Leicester side, whilst former Anderlecht and Sweden midfielder Par Zetterberg once dubbed him a “phenomenon“.
Comparisons to players like Frank Lampard only reinforce his credentials as a player capable of influencing the game at both ends of the pitch and for Conte right now, that has to be a mouth-watering prospect.
On the above evidence, Tielemans would be a very worthy signing and one which could add an enormous amount to the Italian’s engine room.
AND in other news, Reliable journo: Spurs now gifted huge boost after £150m reveal, Conte will be buzzing…
