Unai Emery ‘has new Tielemans’ after Atletico Madrid transfer decision
Unai Emery may have found his new Youri Tielemans at Aston Villa.
The Belgian midfielder was an almost ever-present for the Spaniard last season, featuring 53 times for the Villa Park outfit.
There has been speculation that he could depart this summer with the Villans facing a nightmare when it comes to Profit and Sustainability Rules, with Emi Martinez another who could be on the chopping block.
If that happens, the Villans could have the perfect replacement lined up after new developments at Atletico Madrid.
Aston Villa could benefit from De Paul exit decision
The B6 outfit could do with extra bodies in midfield, with Emery relying on the likes of Tielemans and John McGinn, with little opportunity for rest.
A report from Spanish outfit AS (25 June) claims that Diego Simeone’s side want to sell World Cup-winning maestro Rodrigo De Paul.
It states that he would be available for a fee of around £21.3million with just one year left on his contract at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Villa have previously been linked with the 31-year-old, but will face competition from the likes of Inter, AC Milan and Galatasaray.
De Paul could be Emery’s new Tielemans
Just like Tielemans, the Argentine played 53 matches in all competitions last season, proving to be a reliable option for Simeone.
He notched three goals and 10 assists for the Madrid-based outfit and he will be highly motivated to succeed to secure his place in the 2026 World Cup squad.
If Tielemans departs, it would be a great replacement as he is a top-quality player and is not afraid to put his body on the line for the cause, just like the current Villa star.
If the Belgian stays, which would not be a surprise as he is reportedly set to be offered a new deal in the West Midlands, they could complement each other really well.
Alternatively, it would allow Emery to rest his favourite player, so he does not suffer from burnout, which it looked like he was towards the end of the last campaign.
Monchi and Emery need to be on the lookout for smart opportunities in the market due to their PSR concerns and De Paul for £21.3m, would be a very clever move.
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