Erik ten Hag has reportedly revived Manchester United 's interest in Leicester's Youri Tielemans as he continues to eye up midfield reinforcements.
The Red Devils had been heavily linked with making a move for the Belgian, who only has one year left on his current Foxes contract, prior to Ten Hag's appointment. However, following the Dutchman's arrival, United have placed all their efforts to sign a new midfielder into securing a deal for Barcelona 's Frenkie de Jong.
With a breakthrough having be made on that front following the news United have finally agreed upon an upfront fee of £56m, Ten Hag is thought to have begun turning his attentions to other potential additions this summer, including that of a second midfield arrival. And despite United having apparently cooled their interest in Tielemans, a move for the 25-year-old now appears back on the cards.
According to The Times, the Red Devils have placed the Leicester midfielder back on their shortlist of summer transfer targets, with the Foxes creator considered 'of interest' to Ten Hag. It remains to be seen how determined the Dutchman is to land Tielemans this summer and the player's contract uncertainty may play a part in the timeline for a potential approach.
The former Monaco man has made no secret of his desire to depart the King Power Stadium in order to embark on a new challenge in the near future, with Champions League football understood to be a key aim. Tielemans is said to have shown no desire to sign a new deal with Leicester, who are well aware they risk losing one of their prized assets on a free transfer next summer.
Given how precariously poised the player's contract situation currently is with the Foxes, it is thought United, like fellow admirers Arsenal, may delay a move for the midfielder until later in the window in order to prioritise completing more pressing deals for other targets. A summer transfer was highly talked-up for Tielemans heading into the window, but speculation has since dried up somewhat.
While United have placed the majority of their efforts in completing a deal for De Jong, Arsenal have focused their attentions on other key targets, namely Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus. The Gunners' bitter north London rivals Tottenham were also understood to be circling.
However, Spurs have since moved to sign Yves Bissouma from Brighton for a fee of £25million - the same figure Tielemans is expected to be available for this summer. The player himself teased that a transfer away from the King Power could be on the cards when probed on his future last month.
"That is not out of the question," Tielemans admitted. "I feel very good at Leicester, I was welcomed with open arms from day one. I give everything for the club until the last day.
"But of course you have to listen to other opportunities, you have to look at your career, and sometimes you have to make choices. Maybe one will come my way."
Back in January, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers appeared resigned to losing the midfielder this summer. He said: “For a player, it’s about ambition, the challenge, and sometimes it's about a different environment. He (Tielemans) is at an age and at a stage in his contract where he has to ensure he looks at every option. I would love it to be here at Leicester City, that is natural, but I also understand it's a very short career."
United manager Ten Hag is understood to be in the market for multiple midfielders following the exits for Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic earlier in the window. Christian Eriksen is another option being considered at Old Trafford.
