Youri Tielemans only spent half of the 2018-19 Premier League season on loan to Leicester City, but the 22-year-old midfielder made quite the impression.
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Such an impression, in fact, that Leicester made a bid to Monaco in an attempt to sign the Tielemans on a permanent transfer ahead of the 2019-10 PL season. According to multiple reports out of the UK, he flew to England this week to iron out the details.
Tielemans’ initial loan agreement did not include an option to buy at the end, which will have undoubtedly given the Ligue 1 side additional leverage in negotiations after the Belgian shone brightly (three goals and four assists) in his 13 appearances for the club. Monaco are said to be demanding what would be a new Leicester club-record fee of $50 million.
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The hope is that Tielemans’ transfer will be completed in time for him to join the first-team squad for the start of preseason training next week. Tielemans joined Monaco two years ago for roughly $25 million.