Arsenal and Man Utd on alert as long-term target in ‘UNPLEASANT’ situation
Robin Bairner
- 9 Sept 2023 12:30 BST
- 3 min read
Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans has complained that he finds himself in a situation that is “not pleasant” at his new club.
Tielemans made the move to Villa Park in the summer from Leicester on a free transfer, but had long been linked with a number of Premier League big guns, most notably Arsenal and Manchester United.
If the Belgium international had been hopeful of making an immediate splash under Unai Emery, though, he has been left sorely disappointed.
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Tielemans has featured in all four of Villa’s Premier League fixtures but has played no more than 45 minutes in any single game, coming on as a replacement as the Birmingham club have picked up six points so far.
It is a situation that he has already admitted he has grown tired of.
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“The situation is not pleasant. I told the manager that I came to Villa to play. He understands me, but at the moment, he prefers to play with the two midfielders from last season,” he is quoted as saying by DH.
“He told me that soon the matches will come one after the other and I will have more playing time. I know this answer doesn't help me move forward, but what should I do? Whenever I have an opportunity, I want to take it. So far, I have started once, in the Conference League.”
Tielemans’ comments and obvious disquiet will have pricked ears at both Arsenal and Man Utd, who will be on the lookout for central midfield support in January.
In particular, the Gunners are a little short in that area of the field, having allowed Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga to depart in the summer transfer window, with only Decan Rice arriving. Meanwhile, there are doubts over the long-term future of Thomas Partey at the club.
All this could provide an escape route for Tielemans as early as January should his frustration at Aston Villa grow.
