Youri Tielemans' impact at Aston Villa nearly did not come to fruition | OneFootball

It's understandable for some Aston Villa fans to not necessarily be feeling great about where the team is at right now. Though still possible, Champions League qualification has the club on the outside looking in at the moment. The FA Cup and CL departures from this year leave AVFC trophyless still, after a couple of decades since the last major piece of silverware.

Under Unai Emery, there has been clear progress, and Villa is positioned, even with potential PSR sanctions, to continue to be a legitimate threat throughout all competitions for years to come. The man in the middle of the park and making a lot happen has been Youri Tielemans.

Since arriving from Leicester, the Belgian has rewarded the Spanish boss's trust. Villa acquired Tielemans in 2023. Through his time in the Premier League, he has been a workhorse for the side. Not only does he use his stamina to be able to affect games for 90 minutes, but his skills also allow him to serve as that vital link between the backline and attacking teammates further up the pitch. This is a role that he excels at.

It bears remembering that Tielemans nearly made the move from the EPL to La Liga. Despite the backing of a certain Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid ended up not securing the services of the Belgium international. It's known, however, that Los Blancos were highly interested in signing the midfielder after his contract with the Foxes expired.

In something of a what-if, the eventual move to Madrid nearly didn't occur. Thankfully for the Villans, Tielemans landed in B6 and continues to be an essential piece of the squad. Still, this is a sport that is constantly changing, and clubs will often need to keep pace in an ever-evolving landscape.

Why Tielemans needs to remain with Aston Villa

Regardless, even in the worst PSR outlook, Tielemans is seen by some to be a possible exit this summer. Particularly given his prior free transfer from LCFC, the possibility of selling him to return to the green is being entertained by some. Liverpool appear interested in adding him to provide an upgrade to their squad.