Arsenal legend hails Tielemans but flags one major concern about United’s next midfield signing

Manchester United’s summer transfer plans have gathered pace recently and Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans appears to be next on the agenda. The Red Devils are working to upgrade their midfield before the start of the new campaign after bidding farewell to Casemiro. The Brazilian was indispensable for the English giants last season and played a starring role in the club’s march to third place in the Premier League table under Michael Carrick. Having departed as a free agent at the end of the campaign, the 34 year old has left a gaping hole in the squad which INEOS are scrambling to address. United have persisted with their Premier League-proven transfer strategy this summer after enjoying tremendous success with that approach last year. After missing out on two priority targets, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, the Red Devils have signed Andrey Santos from Chelsea this week. However, with Manuel Ugarte sidelined with an ACL injury, further reinforcements to the middle of the park are expected before the end of the transfer window. Recent reports have suggested that the Premier League giants have identified their next target in Tielemans. Tielemans has excelled in the Premier League Tielemans rose through the ranks at Anderlecht before breaking into the first team in 2013. After spending four years at Lotto Park, the Belgian midfielder moved to Monaco, where he caught the eye of Leicester City. Tielemans initially joined the Foxes on loan in January 2019, before the deal was made permanent at the end of the season. The 29 year old spent another four seasons at the King Power Stadium before Aston Villa came calling in 2023. Tielemans has been a key figure for the Birmingham-based club since his arrival. Last season, he helped Unai Emery’s side win the UEFA Europa League, contributing two goals and seven assists in 35 games. Youri Tielemans Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League2521-4–1,863′ UEFA Europa League97232-642′ FA Cup10—-81′ EFL Cup——- Total3528272-2,586′ Source: Transfermarkt. While the Belgian had an injury-hit campaign, United certainly saw promise in his performances and have reportedly secured a deal after triggering his €41 million release clause. Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, however, has his reservations about the move. Tielemans sent United warning Speaking on talkSPORT’s World Cup Breakfast Show, Petit warned Tielemans that playing for United is a lot more demanding than operating with Villa. He said: “I have a feeling that Tielemans is a good player, there’s no doubt about that.” “But going to Manchester United, I think it’s a step further and the pressure is different. You have to play well every single game. Sometimes I have the feeling it’s kind of the same with the manager at Aston Villa (Unai Emery).” “He tries to manage the top clubs and I won’t say he failed, there are many reasons why it didn’t work. But the fact that he won so many trophies with teams lower than that, for me, there is something behind that. I’ve got the same feeling with Tielemans.” Final Thoughts While a move for Tielemans may have divided opinion among supporters, it could prove to be another shrewd piece of business from INEOS. The Belgian would bring valuable experience to the middle of the park, precisely what United need following Casemiro’s departure. Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.