Youri Tielemans transfer saga is complicated for Leicester City as Arsenal linger

Leicester City are entangled in another transfer saga, but this one is not like the others.

City had a year off from selling a big-name player last summer, a break from their annual tradition. For the farewells of Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell, and more in the previous years, the same playbook was followed. But for this summer’s saga around Youri Tielemans, that won’t be the case.

The sales of Mahrez, Maguire, and Chilwell were straightforward, in truth. It was clear that one of the Premier League’s biggest sides wanted them – two in the case of Maguire, with both Manchester clubs interested – and that they were among their priorities for the summer.

There was no doubt for the three players that moving to Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea was a step up in their careers. All three wanted the transfer.

As such, City were not really going to stand in their way. The only sticking point was the fee. But there was an air of inevitably that for all of the back and forth, City would eventually get a sum they felt was worthy of the player’s value, and the big club would get their man through the door.

With Tielemans, it’s much more complicated. Arsenal are the team doing the chasing this time, and the past fortnight has shown that he’s not top of their wishlist, like Mahrez, Maguire, and Chilwell were for their clubs.

While it looked like a deal they were keen to do, they never put an offer forward, and have since signed Fabio Vieira from Porto, are about to sign Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, and have been battling with Chelsea for Leeds’ Raphinha. Tielemans has barely been mentioned.

As for other potential suitors, there is only really Manchester United as far as an English club goes. Even then,