Manchester United secured what former player Louis Saha described as the “bargain of the summer” by signing midfielder Youri Tielemans last month. The 29-year-old Belgian joined the club from Aston Villa for a reported £35 million after a potential £43 million transfer for Atalanta’s Ederson fell through following a medical examination.

Tielemans arrives with extensive Premier League experience, having totaled 244 appearances since moving to Leicester City from Monaco in 2019. After Leicester’s relegation last season, he joined Aston Villa on a free transfer before United’s acquisition. The club had been seeking defensive midfield reinforcements, particularly following the signing of 22-year-old Andrey Santos from Chelsea.

Saha praised Tielemans for his experience and style of play, noting that the midfielder offers qualities well-suited to replacing Casemiro, a key figure in United’s recent midfield setup. “He’s experienced, he’s played in the World Cup, played well, showed his aggression, which we need in midfield,” Saha said. He added that Tielemans is notably efficient in ball handling and positioning, which reduces turnovers, although he may not contribute as much to creativity as Bruno Fernandes. Saha highlighted the potential for Tielemans to form an effective partnership with Santos, citing their combination as bringing “unpredictability and power” to the midfield.

United’s midfield transfer activity followed unsuccessful attempts to sign other high-profile players. Elliot Anderson joined Manchester City from Nottingham Forest in a deal reportedly worth £116 million, while Mateus Fernandes moved to Tottenham Hotspur for around £85 million. Sandro Tonali’s transfer involving United was also noted to have been around £100 million. Saha contrasted these figures with Tielemans’ fee, calling the Belgian’s signing “a bargain” compared to the much higher prices paid for other midfielders.

Saha further commented on the shifting market values, expressing skepticism about the inflated fees for certain players. He emphasized the importance of securing committed and hardworking players to help restore Manchester United’s competitive standing, describing the midfield as pivotal to this objective.

The signing of Tielemans reflects United’s strategy of balancing experience and relative affordability in their squad rebuilding process ahead of the ongoing season.