Youri Tielemans has emerged as the latest Aston Villa player being considered for a potential transfer to the Saudi Pro League. The Belgian international, who is likely to receive Villa’s Player of the Season accolade for his outstanding performance, is included on Al-Hilal’s list of targets.
The Saudi club is eager to secure a high-profile signing this summer and may turn to Tielemans should their anticipated pursuit of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes not materialize. According to GiveMeSport reporter Ben Jacobs, Al-Hilal is making significant efforts to acquire Fernandes, but they are expected to encounter resistance as Manchester United is firm in their decision not to sell.
Furthermore, Fernandes has not indicated any willingness to join Al-Hilal. Consequently, Al-Hilal is reportedly giving serious thought to Tielemans as a viable alternative. Although the Villa midfielder generally occupies a deeper position than Fernandes, Al-Hilal prioritizes the star quality of the new signing over the specific role he would fulfill.
A rather surprising aspect of the report indicates that Al-Hilal is convinced that a bid of approximately €60 million (£50.5m) would suffice for Villa to agree. While such an amount would typically be dismissed by the Villa management, the Saudi club remains optimistic that their proposal would be too enticing to refuse.
Tielemans, who joined from Leicester City on a free transfer in July 2023, had participated in all 35 of Villa’s Premier League matches this season until he was sidelined due to injury during the 1-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth. The 28-year-old, with 52 starts across all competitions this season, has emerged as arguably Unai Emery’s most dependable player.
Given that Villa is not entirely secure amid a potential violation of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), at least one major sale is necessary this summer. Tielemans, who would generate pure profit since Villa acquired him for free from Leicester, could theoretically be considered expendable.
However, it is highly improbable that Tielemans would be on the list of players to be sold, as Birmingham World reports that he is regarded as an essential player by Emery and the club. Although he was temporarily replaced by Amadou Onana for one match at the Vitality Stadium and will miss the upcoming match against Tottenham Hotspur, losing Tielemans entirely would represent a significant setback.
Villa has several other players they can sell to address their PSR issues. Kosta Nedeljkovic may have his loan at RB Leipzig converted to a permanent transfer for approximately £12 million, while Valencia is contemplating a bid to acquire Villans loanee Enzo Barrenechea on a long-term basis.
These transactions, or similar ones, are likely to help the club avoid PSR penalties, thus alleviating any immediate pressure to sell Tielemans. Although Al-Hilal may be optimistic, they are likely to be disappointed if they pursue this matter. However, if they present an exceptionally compelling offer, the situation could change, but the reported figure of £50.5 million is unlikely to be adequate.
Leave a Reply