Jermaine Jenas told BBC’s coverage of Belgium’s 2-0 defeat to Morocco that Youri Tielemans can often be a bystander when the tempo is high – amid reports that Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in signing the Leicester midfielder.
Tielemans, 25, is out of contract at the end of the season and might be using the World Cup as a shop window. But, it is not going to plan for the ex-Monaco man, or indeed, Belgium as a whole. They have been poor so far, in Qatar.
Leicester’s FA Cup hero started against Canada, but Belgium were woeful. Somehow, they won 1-0. But Tielemans was hooked at half-time. Then, a 2-0 loss to Morocco, in which Tielemans was dropped and given just 30 minutes.
Paul Brown told Give Me Sport that Liverpool are a dark horse in the race for Tielemans. Meanwhile, The Mail say it will cost interested parties – including Arsenal – just £17million to sign the ex-Anderlecht star in the January window.
Jenas was on co-comms for BBC Sport during Belgium’s defeat to Morocco. He was discussing Roberto Martinez’s decision to bring in Everton’s Amadou Onana for Tielemans from the start – and pointed out a flaw in Tielemans.
“I love Tielemans, top player. I would play him ahead of Witsel in a game like this. They got completely overran (against Canada). That catches Tielemans out every now and again, is that when the game gets quick, players can go by him.”
Jenas: Tielemans can be a bystander amid Liverpool and Arsenal reports
Jenas is right. Tielemans is a brilliant player when he is given the chance to dictate the tempo, to control the midfield and the time to pick his passes. He can play as a deep-lying midfielder, or as a 10 for Leicester in recent times.
While he would be a wonderful signing for either Arsenal or Liverpool, especially at that fee, it must be a consideration that he can get lost when the game is intense. When the ball is under control, he is an excellent option.
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