Manchester United's Tielemans Transfer Verdict: A Bargain or Not?
Manchester United's signing of Youri Tielemans has been hailed as a bargain by former Red Louis Saha. The 29-year-old midfielder joined the club on a deal running until 2031 last month, and made his debut against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on Saturday.
What happened?
Tielemans joined Manchester United on a deal running until 2031 last month, and made his debut against Paris Saint-Germain in Gothenburg on Saturday. The 29-year-old midfielder has 244 Premier League appearances to his name, having joined Leicester City from Monaco in 2019, before moving to Villa on a free transfer following the Foxes' relegation in 2023.
Why it matters for Manchester United
Saha believes that Tielemans is a bargain, and that he presents better value for money than Elliot Anderson, Matheus Fernandes, and Sandro Tonali. He also thinks that Tielemans' experience and aggression make him a good fit for Manchester United's midfield.
What comes next?
Manchester United had been searching for at least one midfielder after signing Andrey Santos, 22, from Chelsea. They lost out on signing Mateus Fernandes and Elliot Anderson, who joined Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, respectively. Fernandes moved to Spurs for £85m, with Tonali also costing them £100m, while Anderson joined City from Nottingham Forest for a whopping £116m.
The club is currently 14 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race, and has a recent form of 4W-1D-0L (WWWWD, most recent first). Their next fixture is against Hull City away on August 22.
Tielemans' profile
Saha believes that Tielemans' positioning and efficiency with the ball make him a good fit for Manchester United's midfield. He also thinks that Tielemans' mobility and ability to combine with Santos make him a valuable asset for the club.
Conclusion
Manchester United's signing of Youri Tielemans has been hailed as a bargain by former Red Louis Saha. But is it really a good deal? Only time will tell.
League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 3rd in Premier League, 71 pts, 20W-11D-7L from 38 games, recent form WWDWW. Goals this season: 69 scored, 50 conceded (+19 goal difference). Title race: 14 points behind leaders Arsenal. Last result: Brighton 0-3 Manchester United (2026-05-24). Recent form (last 5): 4W-1D-0L (WWWWD, most recent first); on a 4-game winning run. Next fixture: vs Hull City (away, 2026-08-22).
