Leicester City completed the permanent signing of AS Monaco and Belgian international midfielder Youri Tielemans last week after his successful loan spell at the King Power last season – a four year deal believed to be in the region of £40m, making him the clubs record signing.
Tielemans, aged 22, was involved in 9 goals (3 goals, 6 assists) in 13 Premier League appearances after arriving on an initial six-month loan in January. Tielemans becomes Rodgers’ third summer signing after Ayoze Perez joined from Newcastle in a £30m deal and full-back James Justin completed his move from Luton Town.
With much of the summer centred around the future of Harry Maguire and his potential proposed move to Manchester United, you just knew Brendan Rodgers will be working in the background refining his squad as the former Liverpool coach plans another surprise assualt in the Premier League. If the departure of Harry Maguire is causing uncertainty around the City of Leicester, then the permanent signing of Youri Tielemans is sure to end that pessimism and excite the Leicester faithful once again.
Youri Tielemans may have struggled in France during his time at Monaco, but as soon as he stepped foot at the King Power in January for his six month loan, it was like he’d been plying his trade in the Premier League for much of his career. Before January, Leicester had been missing that added bite in midfield, with Wilfried Ndidi, James Maddison and youngster Hamza Choudhury able bodies for Brendan Rodgers to utilise, but it was that creative and composed style that they desperately needed and the signing of Youri Tielemans is the perfect ingredient.
His arrival in January was seen as a major coup for the Foxes. On many occasions, regarded as one of the brightest young midfielders in Europe especially when he started out for Anderlecht at the age of 16, it was then that he was immediately thrown into the first team and Tielemans has never looked back since then. It is a testament to the Belgian international’s qualities and its one of the reasons why he has been part of the Belgian set-up for so long, making his international debut at the tail end of 2016 in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands.
Just under 3 years on, after minor setbacks in the move to Monaco which didn’t bear as much fruit as he would have hoped, Tielemans now finds himself at the centre of a revolution, a club that is looking on its way up and once again looking to put in a major assault on the top six next season. Finally, the Belgian midfield orchestrator finds himself at home hoping to be a part of team on the cusp of doing something special under Brendan Rodgers – who himself will be aiming to right his own wrongs in a division he left in 2015 after being relieved of his duties at Liverpool.
Nonetheless, Tieleman’s impact at the King Power has been immediate – no need for a bedding in period. Standing at just 5ft9in, the Belgian architect doesn’t hold the most meanest or domineering frame, however, what he lacks in height, he makes up for in his technical abilities – using his small frame to his advantage when evading challenges and getting out of tight spots. What is equally impressive about his game, is his incredible first touch that allows him the opportunity to dictate play and to control the tempo at whatever speed he desires. When you watch Tielemans week-in week-out – as joyous as it is – you can perfectly see why he will be so imperative to Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City project.
Also very adept in his dribbling, and tackling. Tielemans holds the full package when it comes to your archetypal modern-day midfielder. Great in possession, skilful in his dribbling, calm and collected in his passing and also holds the unique ability at unlocking defences at will. Before, James Maddison was the only player capable of being so pivotal in the final third, but now Brendan Rodgers possesses another player fully blessed with the ability to master the art of the ‘eye of the needle’ pass. Tielemans creative impact in the final third was striking and clearly evident in his assists especially the pass for Vardy’s strike against Watford in Rodgers’ first game in charge. Picking up the ball on the half-way line, driving forward and then picking out an exemplary pass dissecting Watford’s defence at will, like something out of the parting of the Red Sea.
He’d only been at the club a mere six months and his understanding with the other key players in the squad is simply outstanding – with James Maddison especially, probably the most creative pair in the Premier League and its a weapon Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to get the best out of next season. Another example of Tieleman’s brilliance is his assist for Harvey Barnes at the London Stadium against West Ham. Excellently controlling a pass fired into him, killing the ball dead and then lifting his head up to spot the run of Harvey Barnes, and then expertly threading a smart pass through a corridor of West Ham defenders – a pass perfectly weighted enough for Barnes to strike the equaliser without the need for a first touch. It was simply exquisite.
It’s that kind of quality which makes you wonder why Leicester were given a free run at securing his signature when all of the top six sides could have done with Tieleman’s brilliance in midfield.
If there is one blip or blemish in Tieleman’s ability is his sub-par performances for Monaco during his time in France. However, he did start 20 of Monaco’s 22 games prior to his switch to the King Power, scoring five goals and assisting once. A decent return for a player struggling to find his feet at the club, but a further testament to the ability and professionalism that Tielemans holds.
The fact that Leicester have moved quickly to secure Tielemans’ future is a further representation of the importance he will hold to Brendan Rodgers’ squad and system, and with the £30million signing of Ayoze Perez from Newcastle gives Rodgers another dimension to his attack. Not only can Perez become effective up-front but his work rate, off the ball movement and tenacious energy means he is more than capable of filling in when needed on the wings especially on the right which means Leicester will be filled with an industrious energy and pace on both wings with the likes of Demarai Gray, Ben Chilwell, Ricardo Pereira and the addition of Perez allows Rodgers side to be dangerous both on the counter-attack and when trying to break down stiff and sturdy defences. The fluid movement of Vardy, Gray and Ayoze Perez is just what Tielemans and Maddison need. Give either of these creative outlets space and time, and they will more than likely execute something out of nothing in order to unlock the space in behind defences.
Brendan Rodgers now holds a squad – including a couple more additions this summer – capable of executing a major assualt on the Premier league’s top six and it is definitely a squad that may just be as good as the one that famously won the Premier League in 2016. In Wilfried Ndidi, Rodgers holds a player exerting similar characteristics to N’golo Kante who was a vital component in that 2016 winning side. With Tielemans and James Maddison busy strutting their stuff in the final third, Ndidi will be tasked with breaking up play, recovering possession and screening in front of his back line – a role he has expertly done ever since his introduction to English football. A perfectly balanced midfield, and with the added composure and youthful exuberance in Hamza Choudhury, Rodgers holds a finely tuned and talented midfield he can call upon. That’s not to say the Northern Irish coach doesn’t require a couple more astute additions in that area and with the future of Harry Maguire unclear, there will still need to be some fine tuning and moulding done in able for this squad to challenge for a Champions League place.
Nevertheless, the signing of Youri Tielemans represents a massive step in the right direction, a player blessed with much skill, technique and qualities that a few in his position can only dream of. This coming season may just be the start of something new for Brendan Rodgers and Leicester City – a potential match made in heaven – and the Belgian international Tielemans will be at the centre of any ambitions that Rodgers holds for this fresh, finely balanced and talented squad.
Leicester City may just cause another famous surprise this coming season. This Revolution may indeed be televised.
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