Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Youri Tielemans could leave the club in the summer as contract talks hit stalemate.
Tielemans, 24, arrived at Leicester in a club record £35million deal from Monaco in 2018 after a successful loan spell with the Foxes. He has since established a regular starting role in Leicester’s midfield and scored the winner in last season’s FA Cup triumph at Wembley.
There has been talks between club and player over striking a new deal, but no agreement has been reached yet and Rodgers has hinted Tielemans could leave in the summer. United and Arsenal are among the clubs linked with a potential move.
Rodgers said: “He is at an age and at a stage in his contract where he has to ensure he looks at every option. I would love it to be here at Leicester, that is natural, but I understand it’s a very short career.
“For players it’s about ambition, the challenge and sometimes it’s about a different environment. We have seen it before many times.”
The Leicester boss has also hinted that a replacement for Tielemans could be in the pipeline already.
He said: “You always have to, that is key. I have said it before about the pipeline of players. You always have to be looking ahead, that’s important. Sometimes it happens unexpectedly.
“Other times you know where the situation is at. We will always look for the type of player who suits how we work, it’s always been the case and it will be the same with any player in any position.
“If we are going to lose one we have to be ready for the next one to come in.”
Tielemans has previously been linked with a move to United and the club could snatch the Belgian International away from Leicester should the contract talks continue drag on.
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