Pep Guardiola might have a problem in midfield next summer as Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan could be on their way out of Manchester City at the end of the season.
Silva has wanted to join Barcelona ever since they showed an interest in 2021, so he might be tempted to Spain if the Catalans return over the summer. Gundogan is out of contract and hasn’t put pen to paper despite being in talks from last year, so Guardiola might need fresh blood.
One player City have been linked with in the past is Youri Tielemans and the 25-year-old might be available on a free transfer in the coming months as his contract at Leicester City is running down.
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Tielemans joined the Foxes on a four-year deal from RSC Anderlecht in 2019 and has gone on to make 172 appearances in all competitions, scoring 26 goals with 25 assists.
The 25-year-old is coming to the end of his deal at the King Power Stadium, however, and has little intention of extending his stay while City struggle in the Premier League, so he could be on the move in 2023.
City wanted Tielemans before Leicester brought him to England, so the chance to sign the more polished version on a free transfer shouldn’t be ignored.
He’d be 1st in the squad for tackles (2.2 per game on average) with more than Rodri (1.8), 4th for interceptions (0.8) with more than Gundogan and Silva, 2nd for pass completed (86.5%) with more than Kevin De Bruyne (80.7%) among many others and joint-5th for goal contributions (2 goals, 1 assist) with more than Julian Alvarez (2 goals, 0 assists), Jack Grealish (1 goal, 0 assists) and Riyad Mahrez (1 goal, 0 assists).
Silva is contracted at the Etihad Stadium until 2025, so City aren’t obligated to cash in early. But Gundogan can sign a pre-contract deal in January to leave on a free next summer, so Guardiola will likely need at least one midfield replacement.
Tielemans is much more affordable than Jude Bellingham…
In other news, Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland could return to face Fulham
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