Stephen Warnock has backed Liverpool to secure the ‘cheap-ish’ transfer of Arsenal target Youri Tielemans from Leicester City before Thursday’s deadline, as he told the Football Show on Sky Sports.
The former Liverpool left-back added that Tielemans ‘wants out’ of the King Power Stadium and he ‘could do a job’ on Merseyside.
Leicester are the only team in the Premier League this summer that are yet to register a new senior face into their squad and it seems as though players will most likely leave than come in this week.
One of them could be Belgium international Tielemans, who has one-year left on his contract, and if he isn’t sold during these next few days, then he’s heading for a Bosman.
Jurgen Klopp initially wasn’t looking to bring in a new midfielder, but he changed his mind once his side were winless after three matches and the injuries started to stack up.
Tielemans could be a logical option and someone that would be a lot easier to get than long-term target, Jude Bellingham, but then it’s all about how much money the Reds are willing to pay for the Leicester player.
“There will be targets, whether they are long-term targets that they might need to bring forward,” said Warnock. “I don’t see them spending £100 million or so.
“I think it might be a loan. But then it’s very difficult to get loan deals of quality that will help you progress and win a Premier League title.
“The ones that stick out as a cheap-ish option is Tielemans at Leicester. Their fans won’t thank me for saying that, but he is in the final year of his contract. It seems as though he is wanting out and you think ‘well he could do a job at Liverpool’.”
ARSENAL ALSO CHASING TIELEMANS
Liverpool aren’t the only team who have Tielemans on their transfer radar, but so do Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who now have issues of their own.
Mohamed Elneny’s recent injury, which could be long-term, has sparked the club to dip into the market late on, especially given that Thomas Partey also missed their win against Fulham last time out.
There seems to be £40 million price-tag on Tielemans’ head, but given that you can sign the player for free in 12 months, then there is no need to drop that sort of money on the table now.
Either way, it will be interesting to see if, on transfer deadline day, any of the above clubs try a cheeky attempt at a possible low offer for Tielemans and whether Leicester end up being tempted to cash in.
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