Ben Jacobs: Newcastle eyeing 'top class' midfield partner for Bruno, could cost just £25m

Journalist Ben Jacobs has provided an update on the future of Youri Tielemans, and Newcastle United get an important mention. 

The key detail in the case of Tielemans is that he’s now into the final 12 months of his Leicester City contract.

Leicester know that this may be their last opportunity to cash in on a £49.5million-rated asset because, come January, he’ll be able to negotiate pre-contract terms with foreign clubs.

Tielemans expected and indeed wanted to join Arsenal, but the Gunners have yet to make any bids, and so the race for his signature is ‘pretty open’.

Jacobs, a CBS Sports journalist, writes that ‘Tielemans’ preference remains to leave this window’.

Leicester have yet to receive any ‘formal bids’ but there is ‘growing interest’ from a group of clubs ‘including Man United and Newcastle’.

In a subsequent tweet, he adds that Leicester are ‘still anticipating offers between £25-30m’ before the window shuts.

Newcastle have yet to strengthen their midfield ranks this summer but did spend £37.9million on Bruno Guimaraes in January.

And a cut-price deal for Tielemans, dubbed ‘top class‘ by BBC writer Premier League Panel, looks appealing given the quality of his performances at Leicester.

He was named the Foxes’ Player of the Season for 2020/21 and he also earned a Premier League Player of the Month nomination for October 2021 – he could form quite the partnership with new fan favourite Bruno.

And Eddie Howe knows how good the Belgian is first-hand, having watched him score two goals in a 4-0 rout at The King Power Stadium in December.

Perhaps the problem is whether Newcastle could convince him to take what may be perceived as a short-term step down.

The Magpies finished three places below Leicester last season,