Youri Tielemans

[Olneythelonely]

Hopefully this starts a bidding war.

Can somebody impersonate Tielemans' agent and give Arsenal a call - telling them he''d much prefer North London to a Shed on a Trading Estate

They’d still not need to offer more than £35m

[Toronto Villa]

It’s the Man U part that makes you throw up in your mouth. If he was going to Saudi or a top club in Europe that still would have felt bad but better.

[darren woolley]

I will be sad to see him go.

[Brazilian Villain]

I don't know why he'd want to go to Man Utd.

Their nickname is The Red Devils.

[nigel]

Tielemans was worth a lot more than the £0 transfer fee we paid so swings and roundabounds.

Exactly
We’d have been looking at paying £30-35m back then, so, surely, receiving £35m for him is like getting £65-70m?

[Matt C]

Agreed, Toronto- it’s the destination that’s hard to swallow.

Rationally, he’s been absolutely fantastic for us but with two years left we’re in sell or new contract territory this summer and I don’t imagine we’re in a position to be handing out 200k p/w contracts to 30 year olds. His wages gone will give us headroom in the SCR nonsense. But, jeez, of all the places he could go, why does it have to be that lot.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don't know why he'd want to go to Man Utd.

Their nickname is The Red Devils.

I always thought it was The Plastic Twats.

[djbone]

Disappointing, not a tragedy. Need to lower average age and wage bill. He’s played a lot of football including this summer, and is 30 by end of next season. Not there, though.

Is where I am with this. The deal overall makes sense to us, but not to those cunnets.

We need to get in a smart wily old fox eye-of-a-needle passer on a short term deal to complement Manzambis energy and relative inexperience

[Pete3206]

What a kick in the goolies.

And to those wankers.

[Toronto Villa]

It’s colossally shit because of just how important he is to how we play. How much Emery values him. He sets the tone for our midfield and dictates the movement of the players around him. Such a calm influence who rarely loses the ball. Never rushed, brilliant vision and sense of awareness. That’s the bit that will be very hard to replace. If they play him in that role with Bruno Fernandes next to him, that’s a top midfield two at those pricks.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It’s shit news but Youri is also 29 years old. We need to get younger and this season clearly will be one of transition. This is made harder with the loss of Onana for a year. This much disruption in our midfield may be difficult to overcome. At least initially.

I can see SJM dropping back to replace him and should he sign, Manzambi taking the right side attacking midfield role. Looking at his play I saw him as the long term McGinn replacement, now it looks like our hand may be forced to bring him in quicker than Unai had planned.

[wolfman999]

I'm seriously beginning to wonder whether being involved in UEFA competitions is worth it to be honest. Despite the money we are supposed to have made from the Champs League 2 years ago, we still appear to be scrambling around the yellow stickers when it comes to buying and the SCR shit is seriously impacting our development as a club. At the same time, we are siting targets for those around us who want to cherry pick our best players. I have to believe in the owners and Unai's long term commitment but surely there will come a point when they say enough is enough.

[TheToffnar]

I'm seriously beginning to wonder whether being involved in UEFA competitions is worth it to be honest. Despite the money we are supposed to have made from the Champs League 2 years ago, we still appear to be scrambling around the yellow stickers when it comes to buying and the SCR shit is seriously impacting our development as a club. At the same time, we are siting targets for those around us who want to cherry pick our best players. I have to believe in the owners and Unai's long term commitment but surely there will come a point when they say enough is enough.

Can't say we've been poached here. Tielemans wanted one last big payday to retire on and clearly gamed the contract situation to get it.

I wouldn't give up any of the last few years if it meant we had an easier time in the markets. We've witnessed some of the greatest moments in the clubs history being as competitive as we have been, not least bagging a trophy for our efforts. Whatever we're doing, it seems to be working.

[Toronto Villa]

It’s shit news but Youri is also 29 years old. We need to get younger and this season clearly will be one of transition. This is made harder with the loss of Onana for a year. This much disruption in our midfield may be difficult to overcome. At least initially.

I can see SJM dropping back to replace him and should he sign, Manzambi taking the right side attacking midfield role. Looking at his play I saw him as the long term McGinn replacement, now it looks like our hand may be forced to bring him in quicker than Unai had planned.

There’s going to be some shuffling for sure. I don’t know that it’s McGinn’s strength to assume that role. With Onana gone, Bouba not guaranteed to be fit for the start and now Youri gone I think we might see another key addition made as the window progresses. Someone who can set the tone as Youri did. The midfield system is crucial to how we play.

[UK Redsox]

If possible, I'd prefer to sell Rogers and keep Youri