Scouting and wage concerns lead Liverpool to abort Youri Tielemans deal
Liverpool Football Club have reportedly abandoned their plans to sign one of their midfield targets this summer after encountering significant issues, and Arsenal have also withdrawn from discussions.
The Merseyside club’s current season has been challenging, with their elimination from the Champions League by Real Madrid in the last 16 and inconsistency in the Premier League.
One aspect of their team that has been criticized is their midfield, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson not performing at their best, and Thiago, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all experiencing injury problems. Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contracts are both expiring this summer, and there is no sign that Liverpool will keep either player.
Thus, Klopp’s squad is actively seeking potential replacements, but according to recent reports, Leicester’s Youri Tielemans will not be one of them, as Liverpool has concerns about his mobility for Klopp’s high-pressing tactics. Tielemans will be available on a free transfer this summer, and if he had joined Liverpool, the club would have had more money to spend in other areas.
However, it appears that the Belgian midfielder will not be heading to Anfield, and Arsenal’s interest in him has also cooled due to his wage demands. If Liverpool were to reconsider their decision on Tielemans, his wage demands would likely be a hurdle for the club as well.
Nevertheless, reports suggest that Liverpool has shifted their focus towards signing Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and Chelsea’s Mason Mount, both of whom have contracts that will expire in the summer of 2024. Mount, in particular, has not yet agreed to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge, and his recent change in agent has fueled rumors of a potential move to Anfield for the English midfielder.