Leicester win race for Tottenham target

 

Leicester have agreed a straight swap deal with Monaco for midfielder Youri Tielemans that will see Adrien Silva move in the opposite direction, reports Belgian outlet HLN.

 

Leicester manager Claude Puel has wanted to sign a new midfielder all month and has edged competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham for Tielemans' signature.

 

The Belgium international was made available for loan by Monaco at the start of the week following Leonardo Jardim’s return as manager.

 

Tielemans had a poor relationship with Jardim during the manager’s stint at the club earlier this season and is now on the cusp of a move to the Premier League for the rest of the season.

 

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was willing to sanction a move for Tielemans if Mauricio Pochettino gave him the green light but they have not acted quickly enough.

 

Monaco may not have sanctioned Tielemans’ departure to Tottenham anyway, as Leicester are giving them a player in return for the highly rated 21-year-old.

 

Silva has failed to make any impression at Leicester since his £22m move from Sporting 18 months ago and will now reunite with Jardim at Monaco.

 

Leicester win race for Tottenham target

 

 

Both players will undergo their medicals on Wednesday and a deal for Tielemans should get over the line in time for the Belgian to face Manchester United on Sunday.

 

Tielemans was not involved in Monaco’s Coupe de la Ligue semi-final defeat to Guingamp on Wednesday but has generally been the club’s best player this season.

 

Monaco have endured a miserable season and currently sit second from bottom in the league, but Tielemans has been one of very few positives for the Principality club this term.

 

In fact, of Monaco players that have made at least 10 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, Tielemans has the highest WhoScored rating (6.94).