Manchester United Transfer News: Youri Tielemans Targeted Amid Chelsea Rumours

Good and bad news has emerged regarding Manchester United's pursuit of Anderlecht wonderkid Youri Tielemans following a report the Red Devils have held talks for the player's transfer—but so too have Premier League rivals Chelsea.  

Goal.com's Greg Stobart has claimed third-party discussions were held in London last week with a view to sanctioning a move for the 18-year-old midfielder at the end of the 2015-16 campaign:

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Third parties held talks with representatives from Old Trafford and Chelsea in London last week, with the Premier League duo going head-to-head to sign the highly-rated youngster. ... Goal understands that third party discussions were held in London last week with representatives from both clubs over possible moves for Tielemans next summer.

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It comes as no shock to see the teenager linked with some of England's biggest powerhouses considering the Belgian prodigy has been tipped as one of the Jupiler Pro League's top prospects for several years now.

Belgian expert John Chapman described Tielemans as possessing "top potential," but he suggested the player is in need of game time if he's to realise the expectations put ahead of him:

Tielemans scored three goals in 29 appearances throughout the normal Jupiler Pro League campaign last season, but he has managed to match that tally in just seven outings so far this term.

That kind of evolution suggests the teenager is on track to becoming the talismanic presence many have thought him capable of, and it seems the giants of England are ready to come calling.

After being nominated as the Best Young Player in Belgium for the last two years in succession, the Anderlecht anchor clearly stands out among his fellow youngsters and has already featured heavily for Belgium's under-21s.

Tielemans was once regarded as something of a specialist in the defensive midfield, but as Copa 90 has depicted, he's beginning to unearth a more and more prolific threat in front of goal:

United have already made significant strides to improve their core of late, but with Michael Carrick and summer signing Bastian Schweinsteiger both on the wrong side of 30, now may be the time to look to the future.

As if Chelsea weren't enough competition for manager Louis van Gaal's side, Spanish football writer Sergi Dominguez sourced newspaper Mundo Deportivo, which has alleged Barcelona are in for Tielemans, too:

The up-and-comer has already won a Belgian league title with Anderlecht in 2014 and played every minute of that year's 10-match play-off run, a sign of his seniority in the squad, despite his age.

The acquisitions of players such as Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay suggest Van Gaal is attempting to build a new dynasty at Old Trafford, with the wheels apparently in motion to see Tielemans join that next generation at United.