According to David Ornstein, one of the most credible sources in football today, Arsenal want Youri Tielemans from Leicester City for a reported £40 million.
Arsenal drew closer to finishing fourth in the Premier League, which would qualify them for the Champions League.
The Gunners have grown more aggressive in their search for fresh players who can help them reach greater heights in the coming season.
Tielemans has been a regular at the King Power Stadium since 2019, when his loan from Monaco was extended for a record £33 million (according to Transfermarkt). With steady defensive and offensive productivity for Leicester, the 25-year-old has mainly impressed everyone in England and around the world.
The Belgian is primarily used as a central midfielder for Leicester, where he forms a double pivot with Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, who broke into the first squad in the second half of this season.
Tielemans mostly plays as a center midfielder, but he is frequently pushed into defensive midfield due to his defensive prowess and earnestness. That doesn’t diminish his offensive abilities, as the Belgian is Leicester’s third-highest Premier League striker with 6 goals and 3 assists.
Tielemans’ ball progression and pass accuracy are benefits for any squad, offensive or defensive. Tielemans carries the ball 47.4 times per 90 minutes and makes 61.6 accurate passes, according to Fbref.
Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, and Albert Sambi Lokonga are among Arsenal’s regular midfielders.
The arrival of Tielemans could prove to be a significant upgrade for most of the players on this list, as well as give some healthy competition in the squad, with players needing to perform better to ensure their names in the first team.
It would make sense for the Gunners to sign the Belgian for £40 million, a modest fee for a high-profile Premier League midfielder.
However, the North London team may face heavy opposition from Real Madrid, the Spanish champions. If Arteta’s side fails to qualify for the Champions League, the Spanish club might step in and take Tielemans off his hands.
The Gunners are in a comfortable position after their North London rivals drew with Liverpool, allowing Arsenal to consolidate their fourth-place finish, four points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth.
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