BARCELONA are reportedly plotting a free transfer swoop for Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans.
The Belgian international, 25, only has nine months remaining on his contract and looks unlikely to pen an extension after refusing offers already.
He will be free to negotiate and agree a pre-contract agreement with any clubs outside of England from January 1.
He was linked with a host of clubs over the summer, with both United and Arsenal keen.
However, now Spanish publication Sport claims Barcelona are eyeing a swoop next summer.
The Nou Camp giants have been interested in Tielemans for months.
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And SER are claiming that Xavi and his coaching staff are big fans of his.
Now they are planning a move to sign him on a free transfer come the end of the campaign.
Despite their insistence on keeping him in the summer, Leicester could decide to cash in on the ace come winter rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the campaign.
Leicester chiefs are understood to want to recoup at least some of the £40m they splashed out to sign him in 2019.
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He has previously indicated that he wants to leave Leicester for a team competing in the Champions League.
The Foxes lost Wesley Fofana to Chelsea last month, while stalwart Kasper Schmeichel left for Nice.
Brendan Rodgers’ side sit second bottom of the Premier League after picking up just four points from their opening nine games.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk