Gary Pallister questions Manchester United’s pursuit of Youri Tielemans

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The Peoples Person

13 July 2026

Manchester United’s move for Aston Villa midfielder

Youri Tielemans

has been described as “underwhelming” by legendary club centre-back Gary Pallister.

The Athletic’s

David Ornstein broke the news

this morning that United are in “advanced talks” with Aston Villa to sign the Belgian, and this was followed shortly afterwards by a trademark “Here we go!” from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Tielemans is a name that has emerged unexpectedly as United try to rebuild a decimated midfield this season, following the departure of Casemiro and the

ACL injury sustained by Manuel Ugarte

during the World Cup. In an exclusive interview with The Peoples Person hosted by

NetBet Sport

, Pallister said it was not the kind of signing he had expected.

“I think we’ve all felt a bit underwhelmed,” he said. “We’re talking about targets like [Elliot] Anderson and [Sandro] Tonali at the end of the season, and we were all licking our lips at them.”

“Especially Tonali – he’s, he’s got the

Manchester United

stamp all over him. Anderson, we’ve seen what he’s doing at the World Cup at the moment. He’s been that ball-winning, hungry midfielder that we maybe needed as well. They’ve slipped through the net.”

“

Tielemans

, yeah, he’s an exciting talent, but do I think he’s right out the top drawer? Probably not. So yeah, I think a lot of people will be underwhelmed.”

We asked Pallister why he thinks

had gone for Tielemans at this stage.

“If these are the players that Michael’s asking for, and the club are going out and getting them, then fair play,” the

former England defender

said. “I don’t know whether it’s anything to do with the [financial] fair play system, whether it’s to do with the wage structure thing that they’ve got there now. But I don’t think the signings that we’ve mentioned so far, that we’re interested in, have blown

Man United

fans away.”

Pallister said Tielemans has “moments of magic” and can “get fans off their seat”, but suggested the club needed more. “The kid’s a talented player, but when we’ve been linked with these other kind of players that can really help take us to the next step, then we haven’t been able to bring them in,” he explained.

“A lot of people will see that as — not a step back, but not the marquee signing that we’re looking for.”

The second part of our exclusive interview with Gary Pallister will be published here tomorrow.

Featured image Alex Grimm via Getty Images

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