MAN UTD REVIVE TIELEMANS INTEREST
Manchester United have revived their interest in Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to a report.
After a slow start to the summer transfer window, United are now picking up the pace. They have made midfield a top priority, with a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong close.
The Dutchman will move to Old Trafford for an initial £56million, but United know they need more. Full-back was reportedly less of a priority, but now United are close to signing Feyenoord’s Tyrell Malacia.
Still, midfield remains the top priority for Man Utd, with new manager Erik ten Hag wanting a second top-class midfield recruit.
Christian Eriksen is of interest following his short-term deal with Brentford. According to The Times, though, Ten Hag has revived his new club’s interest in Leicester midfielder Tielemans.
The Belgium international has only one year left on his contract and is a long-term Arsenal target.
More recently, reports claimed that West Ham also fancy their chances of signing the 25-year-old. Now, though, Ten Hag sees Tielemans as an ideal recruit.
The 52-cap international has proved a talisman for Leicester in recent seasons.
While the Foxes just missed out on a top-four Premier League finish two campaigns in a row, Tielemans was a driving force for their form.
Earlier this month, the midfielder insisted that he is “not in a rush” to resolve his future.
Tielemans added that, if he was to leave Leicester, it would have to be for a “great project”.
CHELSEA TO SIGN ZAK STURGE
Chelsea will win the race to sign exciting Brighton and England youngster Zak Sturge, a report has claimed.
The Blues are looking to bolster their ranks under their new Todd Boehly-led consortium of owners. They have senior first-team targets in mind, such as Raphinha, Raheem Sterling and Jules Kounde.
However, the club are also looking to build for the future to continue their long-standing reputation of developing youth talent.
As a result, 90min reports that Chelsea have locked onto a deal for 18-year-old left-back Sturge.
And they will win the race for the England Under-18 international ahead of Tottenham, Leeds United and Brentford – from the Premier League at least.
Sturge has reportedly refused to sign a new contract with Brighton, alerting a host of clubs across England.
However, Chelsea have convinced the teenager to move to Stamford Bridge, for what will be a compensation fee given his age.
Sturge has mostly played in the Under-18s Premier League following his breakthrough.
But he did make his Under-23s debut at the end of last season and could play more games at that level for Chelsea from next term onwards.
TRANSFER GOSSIP – TEEMU PUKKI AGENT SPEAKS OUT
The agent of Norwich striker Teemu Pukki has admitted that his client could look for a bigger challenge this summer.
The Finland international caught the eye in the 2019/20 season after the Canaries achieved Premier League promotion, scoring 11 goals.
He subsequently fired 26 more in the Championship the season after, before notching another 11 last term upon Norwich’s return to the top flight.
But as Norwich prepare for their latest drop back down to the Championship, Pukki’s agent is unsure if the 32-year-old will stick around again.
“It is not the optimal situation that the club is in the Championship. That’s clear,” Teemu Turunen told MTV Urheilu.
“Negotiations are going on all the time. It is then a different matter whether it leads to anything. However, Teemu is the kind of player that every player should be, that as long as there is a contract, their own business is done with honour.
“The starting point is that Teemu will go back to Norwich for the training season, but if something happens here before the end of August, I don’t know. Yes, Teemu has a desire to play as high as possible.”
Pukki’s current contract, which he signed last April, expires at the end of next season.