Brendan Rodgers has opened the door to a January exit for Youri Tielemans, accepting the time is now for Leicester to sell players approaching the end of their contract if they no longer want to be there.
After trying to sign the Belgian over the final few days of the summer window, The Athletic revealed earlier this week that the midfielder has been ‘extensively watched’ by Toon scouts, adding that Eddie Howe is eager to sign a Premier League proven No 6 this month.
Tielemans’ contract at the King Power Stadium is due to expire in six months time, meaning this could be the last chance for the East Midlands side to cash in before he leaves on a free at the end of the season.
From the outside looking in, it seems like the 25-year-old feels he’s outgrown a Foxes side currently treading water under Rodgers and is ready for a new challenge.
The former Anderlecht star could prove to be the perfect solution for Newcastle. A cut-price move satisfies our ongoing battle with FFP, while he’s also the ready-made holding midfielder Howe is said to want.
Here’s what Rodgers had to say when asked about out-of-contract players like Tielemans:
“I think that if someone doesn’t want to be here or someone wants too much money to be here, we have to be brave enough to say ‘listen, thank you very much and on you go’, because we are not a club with masses of resources that can facilitate every single players need, especially from a financial side.
“A number of these guys are down to their last year. We said before we’d like them to stay but there has to be a point in time when what they want is too demanding for us as a club and if the time is right, they have to move on, then we have to do that and then look forward.”
I don’t think he is the right player for us, Maddison is far better. Tielemans has not looked the man for some time, plus he want a mega salary, and will probably upset the dressing room . Leave well alone. Hwtl
Kiddafromthetoon(Quote)
We should be going all out for this guy he’s a cracking player to get on a free, regardless of wages. he’s a great option in midfield and would link well with Bruno. There maybe a question about his intensity and physicality but I’m sure this is something Howe & Co can drill into him.
AC(Quote)