Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa after their move for the Atalanta midfielder \u00c9derson stalled.<\/p>\n
Jason Wilcox, United\u2019s director of football, is in advanced talks with Villa regarding a financial package for Tielemans. The 29-year-old, who was part of Belgium\u2019s World Cup squad, is thought to have a \u00a335m release clause in his contract, which has two years remaining.<\/p>\n
Tielemans has considerable Premier League experience having joined Leicester from Monaco in 2019 before moving to Villa on a free transfer<\/a> four years later. The player has 90 caps for his country and captained them at the World Cup, where they were lost 2-1 to Spain 2-1<\/a> at the quarter-final stage on Friday.<\/p>\n With Casemiro having departed United at the end of last season and Manuel Ugarte considered a squad player at best, Michael Carrick is seeking to overhaul his midfield department. A \u00a348m plus \u00a32m add-ons deal for Chelsea\u2019s Andrey Santos has been agreed and \u00c9derson was set to be Carrick\u2019s second midfield signing of the summer window. However, a proposed transfer for the 27-year-old Brazilian is in doubt due to complications, so United have moved ahead with their interest in Tielemans.<\/p>\n The intent to recruit Tielemans signals a shift in United\u2019s transfer policy give his age means he will have little or no sell-on value. He would also represent a notable loss to Villa, especially in light of the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained by his compatriot Amadou Onana at the World Cup.<\/p>\n