Jermain Defoe has compared Arsenal transfer target Youri Tielemans to Paul Scholes after his stunning half-volley for Leicester City on Saturday.
Brendan Rodgers side secured a comfortable 2-0 win against Everton and Tielemans opened the scoring with an outrageous effort from the edge of the area.
The 25-year-old is out-of-contract in the summer and Defoe thinks Tielemans can take his pick in who he signs for given his technical ability.
One of the teams that have previously been heavily mentioned have been Arsenal, who are looking to boost their ever-improving squad.
Mikel Arteta’s side have made a strong start to the new Premier League season, but one of the key things for Tielemans will surely be signing for a team in the Champions League, so that has to be a minimum.
If the Gunners have that booked in May, then it will be interesting to see where Tielemans goes, as Defoe reacted to his goal at Goodison Park and his future, as he told Premier League Productions (05/11/22 at 7:40 pm).
“What a finish,” said Defoe. “Not just the finish, it’s the touch as well. When he sets himself, it’s like a paintbrush, bang, no keeper is saving that. Unbelievable – he has that sort of quality. Every time you see it, it just gets better and better – unbelievable goal.
“Technically he is so good, players like that, when you have better players around you, it makes you better. He’s just a top player.
“It’s the Scholey one. Scholes and Beckham used to do it. It’s so difficult, he makes it look so easy to hit it the first time and keep it down.
“He’s in the strongest position ever (in regards to who he can sign for). How he is performing now, then Leicester need to try to get him signed. But it will be a pick of any club he wants in the summer. There is no pressure on him and see what happens in the summer.”
TIELEMANS PERFECT FOR ARSENAL
It’s a technical minefield at Arsenal and someone like Tielemans would fit in perfectly alongside Thomas Partey if he were to move to north London.
In recent weeks, Arsenal fans have seen Partey’s outstanding ability to shoot from long-range, especially his first-time finishes.
Granit Xhaka has always shown that he has a rocket of a left foot, but it’s fair to say, that Tielemans is on another level to both of those.
So, not only will he bring more control, the ability to dictate a game, push the team up the pitch and have the eye for a defence-splitting pass, but the ability to have TV broadcasters looking at every angle possible at the outstanding long-range goals he scores.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
