AS Roma have joined the race to sign Youri Tielemans, who is also being tracked by Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as per reports.
Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb have reported that AS Roma have entered the race to sign Anderlecht midfielder Youri Tielemans in the summer. Premier League rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have also been heavily linked with the highly-rated Belgian wonderkid.
Youri Tielemans is the latest player in the much talked about “Golden Generation” of Belgian football. Belgium has already produced world class gems like Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and several others, and Tielemans is being hailed as the next big thing to come out of the country.
The youngster is an Anderlecht man through and through, having joined the club as a five-year-old. He made such rapid strides with the Belgian club that he made his senior debut at the tender age of 16. Still only 19, Tielemans has already played 170 times for Anderlecht – unbelievable numbers for a player who is still in his teens.
The numbers make for a highly positive reading as well, with Tielemans bagging 17 goals and 10 assists in 38 appearances in all competitions.
With Tielemans rated as one of the most exciting prospects in Europe, it is no surprise that clubs are starting to circle around the player. Tottenham were one of the first big clubs to register an interest in him, with the North London club scouting the teenager in European action last month.
The club has had a policy of having the right blend of youth and experience in its first team squad, and it has shown in their recruitment of the likes of Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino also has a shortage of quality options in attack and Tielemans’ acquisition could help solve that problem for the long-term. However, Tottenham were recently also joined by Arsenal in the chase for Tielemans, with Arsene Wenger keen to bolster his options in the summer.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are embroiled in a contract standoff with the club, while there is little clarity over the futures of Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as well. Midfield lynchpin Santi Cazorla has been troubled by a spate of injuries, meaning places in the first team setup could be up for grabs next season.
But the two North London rivals are set to be joined by AS Roma in pursuit of Tielemans. Roma talisman Radja Nainggolan is being linked with a move away from the club while Daniele De Rossi is on the wrong side of 30.
The Serie A giants, thus, could be in desperate need of central midfield reinforcements in the summer.
It goes without saying that Tielemans would be an exciting, top quality addition for any of the linked clubs, and Anderlecht could be ready to part with the player for as much as €18 million, a miserly sum keeping in mind the immense talent he possesses.
