Jose Mourinho is ready to ruin Arsenal and Liverpool's hopes of signing Youri Tielemans, with a plan to bring the midfielder to Roma this summer.
Tielemans is available on a free transfer, with his release following Leicester City's relegation leaving the Belgian free to negotiate with clubs around Europe. Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked to the 26-year-old in the past, with both reported to be looking to boost their depth in midfield this summer.
Roma, meanwhile, are set to have less to spend this summer than their Premier League rivals, with a free transfer a realistic proposition following their failure to secure Champions League football. Mourinho's side lost last week's Europa League final, leaving them without any European football for next season.
He has been able to provide former Premier League talent with opportunities in Italy, with Tammy Abraham and Chris Smalling both having thrived under his management. However, this season has been less successful and this could lead to a decline in their standing in the transfer market, with high-profile transfers such as their Paulo Dybala signing last summer looking less likely.
Birmingham Live has reported Roma's interest in the midfielder, with the Serie A club having 'made contact', although Tielemans is thought to be waiting for Premier League offers. Aston Villa are thought to also hold an interest, with their qualification for the Europa Conference League next season providing a potential advantage for Unai Emery.
Tielemans has played against Roma in recent years, with his appearances with Leicester in the 2022 Europa Conference League semi-final ending in defeat to Mourinho's side. He appears to have left a lasting impact on Mourinho, however, with the latest developments signalling their intent to sign the player.
At Leicester, Tielemans showed his ability to be a big-game player, with a stunning winner in the 2021 FA Cup final the highlight of his four years at the club. He was regarded as a wonderkid in his early years, with his early emergence with Belgian club Anderlecht drawing interest from Arsenal, with links persisting throughout his career.
The 58-times capped Belgian, may wish to wait for Mourinho's Roma future to be resolved, however, with the 60-year-old Portuguese being linked to both Real Madrid and PSG. Earlier this week, the former Chelsea and Man United manager hinted at his desire to stay in the Italian capital, but he could yet be contacted as part of PSG's ongoing managerial search.
Earlier this week, Mourinho outlined his future plans, saying: “I can’t say I will be here next season,” Mourinho told reporters. “I will go on holiday on Monday, then we will speak. I told the owners I will tell them if I start talks with another club. As of now no other club called me. It is time for me to talk to the owners. It is time for the owners to talk to me.”
