Leicester City

Leicester City: Jordan Blackwell discusses Youri Tielemans

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Image for Leicester City: Jordan Blackwell discusses Youri Tielemans

Leicester City journalist Jordan Blackwell has offered his views on the contract situation surrounding midfielder Youri Tielemans.

The Belgian enjoyed an incredible season with the Foxes last year, ranking third in the team’s WhoScored ratings, scoring nine goals to go with six assists across all competitions and going down in Leicester City folklore by scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea.

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It’s no surprise, then, to see that the Foxes are looking to sign him to a new deal at the King Power Stadium amid reported interest from other clubs. Speaking on Liverpool podcast Blood Red’s The Agenda, Blackwell offered an update on the contract situation and what the implications are for the club throughout the negotiations:

“So he was offered a new contract, or certainly there were contract talks before he went away with Belgium, a sense of wanting to reward him for being one of the club’s key players and an important player at the club, but also to strengthen their own hand in case other clubs came in.

“Those talks are going to continue after he gets back off his holiday.

“I think that with two years left, you’re getting to the point where it’s a bit of a dangerous situation. Because I think as soon as the player has one year left, their price seems to drop quite considerably. I think while he’s got two years left, Leicester are still in fairly safe hands in being able to charge what they want.

“But it will be a case of trying to get him to sign a new deal, even if it’s a case of adding an extra year onto what he’s got currently, just to strengthen their hand a little bit.”

TIF Thoughts on Jordan Blackwell’s comments about Youri Tielemans and Leicester City…

Is Youri Tielemans Leicester's best player?

Yes

Yes

No

No

It almost comes across as if the contract talks are being done purely on the idea that they are looking to sell him down the line, which would be a strange way to go about things.

Given how good he was for them last season, winning both the Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Year awards at only 24 years of age, they should be looking to build the team around him rather than looking to sell him off at the next available opportunity.

Obviously, if a bid comes in that blows them away, similar to the deal that saw the Foxes sell Harry Maguire, then they can look down that route as well. But if Leicester want to progress to the next level, then they shouldn’t be operating as a selling club, especially when it comes to players like Tielemans.

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Freelance sports journalist & broadcaster.