Arsenal have identified their first summer target in the form of Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans. The Gunners are in the market for a new midfielder their midfield crisis has gotten worse this week. But they are planning for a transfer offer for Tielemans in the summer transfer window but looking to start to negotiate from this month.
The 24-year-old central midfielder has been one of the best midfielders in the English Premier League but has only 18 months remaining on his contract. Leicester City will be looking to extend his contract in the coming weeks but the player’s stance to sign a new deal or not will depend on how they finish this season.
Leicester City are struggling in 10th position in the table with just 25 points from the 18 opening fixtures. They are 12 points behind 4th placed West Ham and 8 points behind 6th placed Tottenham Hotspur. So it will take a miracle for the Foxes to finish this season with a European competition qualification for the next season. Leicester City were also knocked out of the Europa League from the group stages last month and Liverpool beat them in the EFL Cup quarter-finals round. So it will not be easy for Brendan Rodger to convenience Tielemans to extend his stay at King Power Stadium.
Arsenal Contact Agent Of Tielemans But Face Tough Competition:
According to a report from Goal, Arsenal have met representatives and agent of Youri Tielemans to start official negotiations for the probable move in the next summer. Arsenal are sure that they will offer Champions League football next season as they sit in 5h position in the Premier League table with 35 points, just 2 points behind 4th placed West Ham with an extra game in hand.
Arsenal have lost Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny to the Africa Cup of Nations duty last week and Granit Xhaka has tested positive for the Covid-19 test. This reflected in their last match as they were knocked out of the 3rd round of FA Cup by the second-tier teams Nottingham Forest last Sunday. Mikel Arteta was forced to field the 18-year-old Charlie Patino and summer signing Sambi Lokonga in the central midfield role. The Gunners are also looking to sign other midfield targets on loan and spend big in the summer. Arsenal can offer Tielemans a central midfielder role beside Thomas Partey as Granit Xhaka is expected to leave in the summer.
But the North London giants will face tough competition for his signature. Neighbours Tottenham Hotspur are also keeping an eye on the Belgian star and there is interest from the La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid as well.
Tielemans arrived at King Power Stadium from Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco for a transfer fee of £32 million and has been a crucial part of their recent rise in the Premier League. He has scored 14 league goals in 89 appearances for the Foxes. This season, Tielemans in great form with 5 goals and 2 assists in just 15 league matches.