McManaman urges Liverpool to snub top target who won’t ‘fit in’
Former Liverpool star Steve McManaman has advised Jurgen Klopp not to sign Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans and instead use the money to strengthen other areas of the side.
The Reds have been heavily linked with a move for the Belgium midfielder. Tielemans, 24, has been a revelation since moving to King Power Stadium from Monaco. He made an initial loan move in January 2019 before making the switch permanent in July that year.
The East Midlanders paid in the region of £32m for the talented schemer but his value has now doubled. That is said to have thwarted the Anfield giants attempts to sign him in the summer.
Other clubs are also thought to be keen. A report claimed Barcelona were set to watch the former Anderlecht ace during the current campaign.
But the Catalans’ financial situation means they are likely to struggle to match the Foxes valuation. Liverpool kept their power dry in the off-season save for the addition of centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
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However they have been tipped to spend big next summer to freshen up the squad. Tielemans is on the radar. McManaman is a big fan of the player but does not feel there is room for him in the side.
“I certainly think he’s good enough,” McManaman told horseracing.net, via The Express. “He’s done really well and starred in this Leicester team and played very well.
“I also know he’s done very well in the Belgium shirt. But you’re trying to shoehorn people into areas where they’ve got loads of bodies there already.”
McManaman expects Liverpool spending spree
The lack of new faces has not affected the Merseyside giants in the early part of 2021-2022. They sit top of the Premier League table after six games following Saturday’s breathless 3-3 draw with Brentford.
Klopp is expected to be supported in the transfer market next summer. But McManaman does not see a place for Tielemans in the starting XI.
“Do I think Liverpool will spend next summer? The answer would be yes,” he added. “They’ll have a big pot of money next year when I think they’ll spend properly again. But it’s all just about picking the right area; whether you get rid of two or three in the midfield to bring in Tielemans is another thing.
“At the moment there is congestion. You’ve got Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott coming in there – younger players with huge amounts of talent – Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“There are bodies galore. Do they need a Tielemans at this moment in time? No. He’s a really good player, but I just don’t see where he fits in.”
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