Arsenal are reportedly plotting a swoop to sign Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans for free in the summer, with the Belgian international set to leave the King Power Stadium at the end of the season.
According to journalist Dean Jones, the Gunners are still interested in the 25-year-old have been linked with Tielemans for what feels like forever, and the midfielder becoming a free agent in the summer could tempt Mikel Arteta to make a swoop for the Premier League star.
Arsenal could move to sign Tielemans for free this summer
Central midfield is a position Arsenal are eager to flesh out in the summer even with the January signing of Jorginho, with Arteta seemingly targeting long-term replacements for Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey as well as short-term competition for the duo. And Tielemans ticks a lot of boxes for the Gunners.
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A left-footed midfielder who is tactically drilled and Premier League proven, Tielemans would be an appealing option for many at Arsenal in the summer, especially if the club are to spend a record fee for a Declan Rice or a Moises Caicedo if reports are to be believed.
Indeed, at 25, Tielemans is also just about to hit the prime of his career, and as we have seen this season from Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, signing players of this age range has added energy and life to Arsenal’s squad and played a key role in the club’s title push.
Tielemans could be ideal if Arsenal miss out on key targets
Arsenal head into the summer window likely back in the UEFA Champions League and with a transfer budget that could take the squad to a whole new level. And whilst Tielemans might not be a first-choice target, the Belgian has the potential to become an ideal signing if Arteta misses out on other names in the market.
As mentioned, Tielemans is a Premier League-proven player with the ability to join Arsenal in a seamless transition, and as a free signing, the Gunners will find it hard to find a better option in the summer market in terms of cost that the Leicester superstar.