Manchester United are close to completing a shock move for World Cup star and Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans.
Michael Carrick has been looking to sign several midfielders this summer to replace the departed Casemiro and injured Manuel Ugarte.
Andrey Santos is set to arrive from Chelsea but the club recently pulled the plug on a £39million move for Atalanta star Ederson after concerns about the Brazilian’s fitness.
The Red Devils have wasted no time in finding an alternative signing, and as reported by The Athletic, they are set to trigger Tielemans’ £35m release clause.
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Talks between all three parties are at an advanced stage and while Villa do not want to lose their star midfielder, who still has two years left on his contract, the release clause means they are now resigned to doing so.
The Belgium captain is said to be keen on a switch to Old Trafford, just months after scoring the opening goal in Villa’s Europa League final win over Freiburg.
Tielemans will bring much Premier League experience to Carrick’s side having previously starred for Leicester City, where he notably scored the winning goal in the 2021 FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Following the Foxes’ relegation in 2023, the 29-year-old moved to Villa Park on a free transfer and has been a key cog in Unai Emery’s side ever since, helping them qualify for the Champions League in two of the past three seasons.
He also enjoyed a productive World Cup, scoring twice in Belgium’s remarkable comeback victory over Senegal but missed their quarter-final defeat to Spain after picking up an injury in the warm-up.
While a huge coup for United, Tielemans’ exit will devastate Emery who was already set to be without midfielder Amadou Onana after he tore his ACL at the World Cup.
This blow comes less than 24 hours after the Villans hijacked Newcastle United’s transfer fro highly-rated Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi, who is set to sign from Freiburg for £60m.
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