Need the latest Foxes transfer news? Get FREE email alerts for Leicester City FC Sign up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Negotiations for the permanent deal of Youri Tielemans to Leicester City have been going slower than expected, but could soon reach a conclusion.

City have been in talks with Monaco over a potential £40 million deal for the Belgium international since before the end of last season, but Monaco and City have still to finalise a deal.

Manchester United have expressed an interest, but Tielemans is not their number one target as they push to sign his potential City team-mate Harry Maguire , while Tottenham Hotspur also have other priorities.

Bayern Munich and Barcelona have also been in touch with his representatives but will not make a move and City now look increasingly like his best option as he is certain to leave Monaco this summer.

Tielemans has repeatedly spoken highly of his loan spell last season at City and will want the deal done soon so he can join up with his new club, possibly next week when they head to Evian in France for a training camp.

A spanner in the works may be whether Adrien Silva is used in the deal . The Portugal international joined Monaco on loan at the same time Tielemans joined City last season and was a big success in the south of France, but quotes attributed to someone in his camp by a French football website yesterday accused City of “talking about him as a bargaining chip is a lack of respect for a recognised professional who had a major stake in the title of European Champion of Portugal just three years ago.”

Monaco have been holding out for other offers but it is beginning to look like their options are becoming limited and City’s deal is their best option.