Top 5 free transfers that would transform Manchester United squad in the summer
By Vatsal Gupta
Youri Tielemans
Thuram sorts the forward spot, and Ndicka sorts out the defence. Youri Tielemans can sort out the problematic “ball-progressing midfielder” area, all for the combined transfer cost of zero.
There have been questions this season surrounding Tielemans’ quality as Leicester have struggled to get out of the relegation zone. However, it shouldn’t be. Tielemans has proved himself to be a player of the highest quality during his career so far.
He is the youngest Belgian player to play in the UCL, captained his team as a teenager, and then became the talisman of a Leicester side that won the FA Cup in 2021.
With his ability to play as a defensive midfielder, as well as an attacking midfielder, Tielemans should be a no-brainer signing for Manchester United.
The club has struggled this season due to Christian Eriksen’s injury-enforced absence. They fail to play out of opponents’ press and repeatedly lose the ball. Furthermore, in the absence of a ball-progressor, there remains a disconnect between the attack and defence.
Tielemans, despite questions about his form right now, has shown in the past that he has the ability to raise his game to match the level he is playing at. It won’t be a surprise if he takes another leap when playing with world-class players.
Scott McTominay’s time as a Utd player could be ending, and there are doubts about Marcel Sabitzer’s suitability for this team. Tielemans would not just be a replacement, he would be an upgrade.