Champions League-quality Youri Tielemans needs to leave Leicester City if he wants to call Kevin de Bruyne an equal, former Belgium international Marc Degryse has told Het Laaste Nieuws.
It’s not often Manchester City’s £57 million wizard is overshadowed but, during the November international break, another Premier League midfielder stood head and shoulders above the rest of Roberto Martinez’s star-studded squad.
Three days after securing Belgium’s place in the UEFA Nations League finals with a fierce, long-range drive in a 2-0 victory over England, Tielemans repeated the trick as the Rote Duivels thumped Denmark 4-2 in midweek.
The classy playmaker has shone at club level this season too, scoring three times in eight games while running rings around Leeds, Manchester City and Arsenal as Leicester shot to the top of the Premier League table.
But, according to 63-cap Belgium hero Degryse, Tielemans may have to follow in Riyad Mahrez’s footsteps if he is to establish himself as a truly elite-level central midfielder.
“He needs to grow to the level of De Bruyne and, in a few years’ time, go to a club with more fame than Leicester – even though they are now in the lead (in the Premier League),” explains the former PSV, Anderlecht and Sheffield Wednesday forward.
“Tielemans belongs in a team that plays for a Champions League ticket every year. That is possible in the Premier League. In one of the two Manchesters, for example.”
Leicester have sold one big-name star in each of the past five summer windows with N’Golo Kante, Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater, Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell all departing.
However, having invested £40 million in Tielemans when signing him from Monaco, the Foxes would be well placed to demand a fee even higher than the £80 million Man United paid for Maguire when the vultures start circling.
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