KEEPING ALL THE OPTIONS OPEN ON SIGNING A NEW DEAL
CONTRACT TALKS WITH CITY ARE RUMBLING ON
YOURI Tielemans says he is keeping his options open as contract talks at Leicester City rumble on.
The Belgian midfielder, City’s player of the season last term, has two years remaining on his deal at the King Power Stadium and the club have been keen for him to sign a new contract for some time.
An extension has not yet been agreed and over the past few months, Tielemans has been linked to Liverpool, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Asked for the latest on his contract talks by Sky Sports, Tielemans said: “There is no update, really. I’m open to everything. The transfer market has just closed. I just try to keep as much options as I can open.
“As long as I’m here, I’m going to give everything to the club. I have already done so, but I’m going to give even more.
“The contract situation is just something that is going on in football. It’s just a normal situation. There are talks going on. I’m not saying I’m going to sign, but I’m not saying I’m not going to sign.”
City have been in talks with Tielemans since before the summer, when his emotion in the final game of last season led some fans to believe he was saying goodbye.
Despite links to Liverpool during the summer, Tielemans stayed and has started all of City’s games so far.
Brendan Rodgers, who has described Tielemans as his “coach on the pitch”, is desperate to keep him.
“Jon (Rudkin, director of football) is meeting with his representatives,” Rodgers said at the end of last month.
“For me and Youri, it just continues, our relationship.
“He’s an outstanding young professional. I’d love him to re-sign here.
“He’s a fantastic player and for such a young guy to be as professional as he is, and be so focused, he’s a real pleasure to work with.
“Hopefully, we can resolve something on that in the future.”
Tielemans signed a four-year contract when he joined City from Monaco in a club-record £32 million switch in the summer of 2019.
He is one of a glut of City players whose deals run out in 2023. Others include Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu, Jonny Evans, Ryan Bertrand, Kasper Schmeichel and Jamie Vardy.