Manchester City keen to sign Belgian midfield ace: A smart move in the offing

Manchester City are mulling over a move for AS Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans; it has been claimed.

According to Metro, Manchester City are plotting a move for Youri Tielemans amid reports linking David Silva to a transfer away from Etihad Stadium. The Belgian has impressed the onlookers during his loan spell at Leicester City in the 2018/19 campaign and a permanent move to England this summer is a likely proposition.

It is believed that Tielemans could cost around £40 million. But, City will face fierce competition in the form of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Youri Tielemans: A solid addition to the City midfield

Silva’s possible departure will be a massive blow for Manchester City next season. Although the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have emerged as reliable long-term midfield options for the club, they are still in need of someone who can provide more assurance in the centre of the pitch.

Tielemans, in that regard, will be an ideal signing given his all-round qualities. Even though the Monaco star might not be a like for like replacement for Silva, his ability to win back possession coupled with his work-ethic will add another dimension to the Manchester City midfield.

In fact, the Belgian averaged 1.3 tackles per game with an accuracy of almost 60%. He also had an average of nearly 1 clearance per game, which is indicative of his defensive contribution.

But, what makes Tielemans such a quality midfielder is that he can cover a lot of ground and can also operate in half-spaces. He is quite composed on the ball, which allows him to carry the ball even under strong pressure and this could undoubtedly benefit Manchester City’s possession-based game under Pep Guardiola.

Furthermore, Tielemans is a smart operator, whose excellent positional awareness means he hardly gives away the ball and always stays one step ahead of the opposition. This will surely help him integrate into the Juego de posicion style of play implemented by Guardiola.

The 22-year-old is not shy in letting it fly from long-range either, having averaged 2.4 shots per game this season, almost 2 of which have come from outside the 18-yard box. This will bring in an additional edge to the City attack who usually attempt to pass their way into a scoring position.

Therefore, it’s likely that Tielemans will be able to offer a new life to the Manchester City midfield and at the age of just 22, he could be a smart long-term investment for the Sky Blues.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored