Manchester United are on the verge of completing a shock move for Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, activating his £35 million release clause, according to The Athletic. The Belgium captain is expected to join the Red Devils in a deal that bypasses Villa's desire to keep him.
Midfield overhaul at Old Trafford
Manager Michael Carrick has prioritised midfield reinforcements this summer following the departure of Casemiro and an injury to Manuel Ugarte. While Andrey Santos is set to arrive from Chelsea, United recently abandoned a £39 million move for Atalanta's Ederson due to fitness concerns over the Brazilian. Tielemans now emerges as the alternative target, with talks at an advanced stage between all parties.
The 29-year-old has two years remaining on his contract at Villa Park, but the release clause leaves Aston Villa resigned to losing their star midfielder. Tielemans is reportedly keen on a switch to Old Trafford, just months after scoring the opening goal in Villa's Europa League final victory over Freiburg.
Premier League pedigree and World Cup form
Tielemans brings extensive Premier League experience, having previously starred for Leicester City. He notably scored the winning goal in the 2021 FA Cup final against Chelsea. After Leicester's relegation in 2023, he joined Villa on a free transfer and has been a key figure under Unai Emery, helping the club qualify for the Champions League in two of the past three seasons.
At the recent World Cup, Tielemans scored twice in Belgium's comeback win over Senegal, but missed their quarter-final defeat to Spain after picking up an injury during the warm-up. His arrival at Manchester United is expected to add creativity and leadership to Carrick's midfield.
