Journalist drops WHUFC claim on "fantastic" £49.5m-rated ace there will be "big competition" for

West Ham United are set to face ‘big competition’ for Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Belgium international has entered the final 18 months of his contract at the King Power Stadium and is not expected to put pen to paper on fresh terms, opening the door to an imminent exit.

According to transfer expert and well-known reporter Fabrizio Romano, Tielemans has already decided not to extend his stay with Leicester and has turned down the offer of a new contract.

A recent report in the Daily Mail claims that the 24-year-old is not expected to be short of potential suitors, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus are all keeping close tabs on his situation.

However, 90min states that several other sides in the Premier League and across the continent are also keen to snap up Tielemans’ services, including Chelsea, Newcastle United, Borussia Dortmund and West Ham.

The Hammers are expected to strengthen David Moyes’ first-team squad when the market re-opens after failing to do so in the winter, and the technically gifted ace could be at the top of their wish list.

With star midfielder Declan Rice continuing to be linked with a move away from east London, Tielemans may well be seen as the ideal candidate to replace him.

Tielemans has become one of the most dominant engine room operators in the top-flight since his arrival from Monaco on an initial loan deal back in January 2019.

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His standout moment in a Leicester shirt came in the FA Cup final last season, though, after he crashed home the only goal to claim the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

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