Man United close in on £36m move for Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans

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Manchester United are edging closer to completing the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans after moving to activate the Belgium international’s release clause.

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According to Sky Sports News, the Red Devils are set to pay a fee in the region of £36 million, with negotiations progressing rapidly following Belgium’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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The report states that United have triggered the release clause in Tielemans’ contract, paving the way for the 29-year-old to become the club’s latest midfield addition.

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Tielemans joined Aston Villa on a free transfer from Leicester City in 2023 and has since established himself as a key figure under Unai Emery. He made 134 appearances for Villa, scoring 10 goals during his three seasons at the club.

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During his time at Villa Park, the midfielder helped the club qualify for the UEFA Champions League on two occasions, reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition and lift the Europa League trophy last season. He also opened the scoring in the Europa League final victory over Freiburg.

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Before his move to Villa, Tielemans enjoyed a successful spell at Leicester City, where he won both the FA Cup and the Community Shield.

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Manchester United have already agreed a £50 million deal for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos as they continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.

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The pursuit of Tielemans follows reports from Sky Italy that United have ended their interest in Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with the Belgian now emerging as the club’s preferred midfield target.

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