After Kevin Phillips told Football Insider that Brendan Rodgers can’t stop Youri Tielemans from moving to Liverpool, the Leicester Mercury claims it will cost around £70m to sign him.
Speaking to Football Insider in May, Kevin Phillips said: “I think everyone is available for the right price.
“I don’t think Brendan Rodgers would want Tielemans to go but I think when Liverpool come knocking at your door and speak to your agent, then the player is going to listen and is probably going to want to go.”
Now, however, the Leicester Mercury suggests that signing Tielemams will cost the Reds for around £70million, putting a potential move to Anfield in doubt.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 23: Youri Tielemans of Leicester City receives a hug from Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha after being awarded with Leicester City player of the season award. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Rodgers has been told by Phillips that he can’t stop Youri Tielemans from joining Liverpool if that’s what the Belgian wants.
We’ve seen it firsthand before. Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez and many more before them have forced their way out of Liverpool for bigger and greater things with player power at an all-time high.
Once a player has his heart set on a move away from a club, it’s nigh on impossible to do anything with players like Coutinho told to fake injuries to get their way and while Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t sanction anything like that, Tielemans could get a move to Anfield this summer if he makes enough fuss.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Youri Tielemans of Leicester City celebrates with the Emirates FA Cup trophy following The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth – Pool/Getty Images)
Given that Liverpool signed Thiago Alcantara with a staggered payment structure last summer, they could work on something similar with Leicester City although it’s likely they will drive up the price when dealing with another Premier League side.
They sold Harry Maguire to Manchester United for £80million so after Tielemans won the FA Cup final for Brendan Rodgers’ side it would be interesting to see how much the Foxes value the 24-year-old at.
Not only did he score a screamer to win the first FA Cup in Leicester’s history but he was also fantastic for them in the Premier League but he does need to work on his consistency because he can be brilliant one week and then poor the next.
This was exemplified by his lacklustre display against Tottenham on the final day of the season when Tottenham beat Rodgers’ men 3-2 to thwart their Champions League qualification hopes.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 23: Youri Tielemans of Leicester City gestures during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at The King Power Stadium on May 23, 2021 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Liverpool’s biggest draw isn’t their ability to offer Champions League football, as Phillips suggests it is, but rather their ability to offer players the chance to win it.
Chelsea won the 2021 tournament but with Ibrahima Konate arriving this summer and the likes of Virgil van Dijk expected back, Liverpool will be one of the favourites to win the 2022 campaign.
They’re also more than likely to challenge for the Premier League title again.
