Liverpool Identify Manchester United's $63M Target As Gini Wijnaldum’s Ideal Replacement: Report

KEY POINTS

Youri Tielemans scored the winner in the FA Cup final at Wembley
He scored 6 goals and 4 assists for Leicester in the 2020-21 Premier League
He is contracted with Leicester until 2023

Liverpool FC have reportedly identified Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans as an ideal replacement for Gini Wijnaldum ahead of the 2021 summer.

With Wijnaldum’s move to FC Barcelona now confirmed, Liverpool’s sporting director Michael Edwards has stepped up his efforts to land Tielemans at Anfield, reported Dutch publication Het Nieuwsblad.

Tielemans has been exceptional for Leicester since his arrival from Monaco in January 2019. He was on loan for the first six months before being signed permanently in July 2019. In very little time, the Belgian midfielder has become a crucial member of the Foxes. In the 2020-21 campaign, he started 37 out of 38 Premier League games for Leicester, scoring six goals. But his value goes beyond the number of goals. He has already played 108 competitive games for Leicester City, scoring 17 goals and providing 19 assists.

His winner at Wembley in the FA Cup final against Chelsea has boosted interest even further in the 24-year-old central midfielder. Tielemans’ goal saw Leicester lift their maiden FA Cup trophy.

Plenty to think about - Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers looks on during his side's 4-2 defeat by Newcastle POOL / Michael Regan

Tielemans’ market value curve has been on the rise and his current value is around $63 million, according to Transfermarkt.

Signing Tielemans won’t be an easy task for Liverpool ahead of the 2021 summer market. The player is under contract with Leicester until 2023. Apart from the Reds, even Manchester United are interested in Tielemans, who the Red Devils are seeing as a back-up for Paul Pogba.

Leicester, in order to dismiss the links, are planning to offer Tielemans a contract extension that would see his release clause raise to around $113 million.

However, Tielemans is yet to sign the deal and that has kept doors open for Leicester’s Premier League rivals. Even though the Belgian midfielder wants to continue at the King Power Stadium, the speculations about his future have increased after Leicester narrowly missed Champions League qualification for the 2021-22 season.

Bidding to Tielemans is likely to begin at $56 million, according to soccer website Teamtalk.