Arsenal target Youri Tielemans is high on the list of the club’s transfer targets for technical director Edu and head coach Mikel Arteta, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Belgian midfielder has been linked with a move away from Leicester this summer, having still not penned a new deal at the King Power Stadium with less than a year remaining on his current contract.
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What’s the latest on Tielemans?
According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, Tielemans is fully convinced on a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, and is expected to choose a move to north London over Manchester United.
Arteta’s side could look to make a move for the 25-year-old midfielder later in the summer, with the club eager to get the signing of Ajax centre-back Lisandro Martínez over the line soon.
The Athletic seem to agree with Romano that Arsenal are yet to make a bid for the £49.5m-rated midfielder this summer, but that there is a genuine interest from the Europa League side that they can get a deal over the line.
And Romano believes that Tielemans has been high on the transfer shortlist for both Edu and Arteta for some time.
What has Romano said about Tielemans?
He told GIVEMESPORT: “Let's see if they will decide to make an official bid for Tielemans, or if it’s just contact with his agent.
“He's always been very high on the list for Edu and Arteta.”
Would Tielemans be a good signing for Arsenal?
Despite their purchase of Porto’s Fabio Vieira for an initial £30m this summer, the signing of Tielemans would still prove to be an excellent signing for Arteta’s side this summer.
The 52-time Belgium international made 50 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ side last season, scoring seven goals and providing five assists according to Transfermarkt.
And Rodgers would be disappointed to lose his midfielder, dubbing him as “one of Europe’s top midfielders” earlier last season.
One of Tielemans biggest strengths is his eye for a forward pass which can push his team up the field, and this is backed up by FBref, who show that the Leicester star ranks in the top 12% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues and European competition for progressive passes per 90 minutes (5.80).
The 2021 FA Cup winner also ranks in the top 15% of midfielders for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.97) according to the same stats provider, suggesting that a lot of the midfielder’s game is based around providing opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Despite the fact that Arsenal have already made a pricey recruitment in Vieira for their midfield, Arteta would be remiss to not try and push the signing of Tielemans over the line, especially if it was to weaken a Premier League rival who have challenged the European spots in the league over the past few seasons.