Youri Tielemans has confirmed his departure from relegated Leicester City amid reports linking Premier League giants Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool in the now free-agent midfielder.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright perhaps said it best.
With Leicester City going from FA Cup winners to the Championship within the space of two years, the man who scored that wonderous Wembley winner against Chelsea as recently as 2021 has come to epitomise the Foxes’ rapid decline like few others.
“So many of their players have hit bad form. Look at Youri Tielemans,” Wright explains on his Wright’s House podcast. “Tielemans’ drop-off this season is quite sad, you know.
“You watch him and he hasn’t got the dynamism that he had.”
Youri Tielemans leaving relegated Leicester City
The reason behind Tielemans’ staggering demise is anyone’s guess. Did things simply go stale for him at the King Power, a la Wilfried Ndidi, Caglar Soyuncu, Harvey Barnes and co? Did he take his eye off the ball, his contract ending in a matter of weeks?
Whatever the reason, a player that would have had the Premier League’s big hitters queuing up to sign him in previous windows may suddenly be incurring his fair share of doubts, concerns over the Belgian international’s mentality and drive when the going gets tough.
The Northern Echo reported back in March that Tielemans is still a leading target for a Newcastle United side under pressure to add some high-quality depth to their ranks following Champions League qualification.
Arsenal are long-time admirers, while Liverpool and Tottenham are both in the market for midfield reinforcements too (Football Transfers).
A £40 million signing from Monaco back in 2019; Tielemans confirmed one of football’s worst-kept secrets on Wednesday, announcing that he will be leaving Leicester following their calamitous relegation.
“Dear Leicester City fans, after four and a half special years and with a lot of gratitude, I am bidding farewell to this incredible club,” Tielemans says, via the BBC.
“From the first day I set foot on this ground, your warmth and passion embraced me.
“Victory and triumph, love, hope and even defeat, we have shared many special moments together. I am forever grateful for your unwavering support.”
But how much damage has a disastrous 2022/23 campaign – and 18 months of largely poor form – done to Tielemans’ reputation? This is a question likely to be answered during the transfer window.
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