Journalist says Tielemans was top target for Tottenham before summer

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Journalist Dean Jones has told The Football Terrace that he was told right at the end of last season that Youri Tielemans was the player at the top of Tottenham Hotspur’s shopping list ahead of the summer.

Of course, as the window starts to reach the final stages, Tielemans remains at Leicester City. The Belgian has been heavily linked with a raft of Premier League sides.

Reports towards the end of the campaign claimed that Arsenal were confident of doing a £40 million deal for the 25-year-old. However, a lot changed in the days following those reports.

Arsenal ultimately missed out on fourth spot. And it was Spurs who beat them to that position. With that, Antonio Conte’s men have been able to do some amazing business.

They have already announced five signings. And a number of areas appear to be considerably stronger.

They have not made a move for Tielemans. And that may have come as a surprise to Jones, with the journalist disclosing he had been informed that the Leicester star was a top target when it became apparent that Tottenham would be back at Europe’s top table this coming year.

“He would’ve chosen Tottenham over Arsenal just because Tottenham have got Champions League football,” he told The Football Terrace.

“And I still remember getting the text the back-end of last season when Tottenham were on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League. It was like: ‘if Tottenham do get fourth spot, Tielemans is right at the top of their list’. And it just hasn’t come through for whatever reason.”

Tottenham no longer need to sign Tielemans this summer

Conte is looking to improve the depth in his ranks. But with Tottenham signing Yves Bissouma, Spurs probably do not need to pursue a deal for Tielemans.

They have plenty of options in the middle of the park. That puts Tottenham in a strong position if they do decide to pursue Tielemans in the final weeks of the window.

He would be a good addition. Wes Morgan described him as a ‘special‘ player. And he would improve Tottenham’s ranks.

But Spurs certainly do not need to push the boat out with so much of their business done early in the window.