Arsenal Advance in Talks to Sign Leicester City Midfielder Youri Tielemans

Youri Tielemans, Arsenal, Leicester City

According to latest reports, Arsenal have made substantial progress in their negotiations to sign Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans. The Gunners have ramped up the negotiations to secure the services of the Belgium international.

The 25-year-old midfielder has been a key addition to the Leicester City side since 2019. He has contributed 24 goals and 24 assists for the Foxes in 158 appearances across all competitions (stats via Transfermarkt). Tielemans also scored the winner for Brendan Rodgers’ men in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea in 2021.

Arsenal have been linked with the Leicester City star since the start of this transfer window. The North London side have bought Fabio Vieira from Porto this summer, but are looking bolster their squad and increase their squad depth by bringing in another midfielder.

Youri Tielemans, Leicester City, Arsenal — Image obtained via SkySports

According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook (via Give Me Sport), Arsenal and Leicester City have gone one step ahead in the process to complete a deal for Youri Tielemans. The Gunners boss Mikel Arteta admires the Belgian midfielder and the club are working hard to get their manager what he wants.

Although both the clubs are yet to reach an agreement on a fee, the 25-year-old has reportedly agreed to personal terms with the Gunners and is waiting for the move to materialise. The Belgian international has only one year left on his contract at the King Power Stadium which makes it easier for Arteta’s side.

Moreover, the North London outfit also promises Europa League football next season. The Foxes did not have the best of seasons last term which has forced the central midfielder to reconsider his future at the club. Arsenal are a tempting option considering how much their squad has improved since the last season. In addition, the player also gets to stay in the Premier League if the transfer takes place.

(🌕) Youri Tielemans wants to leave Leicester City, the player's priority has always been Arsenal. (@FabrizioRomano) pic.twitter.com/U4fWTNEaWI

— Talking Highbury (@TalkingHighbury) July 14, 2022

However, the £60 million price tag could be an obstacle for the Gunners. Paying that much amount of money for a player who has just one year left on his contract is forcing the club to think hard before they act. Nevertheless, it is understandable why Leicester are demanding the price from Arsenal – as Tielemans has been a core member of the squad ever since he joined.

What Could Be The Role Of Youri Tielemans At Arsenal?

The 25-year-old midfielder plays as the number 6 for the Foxes. He does the job of linking the defence with the attack and making things tick in the centre of the park. While doing that, he also keeps getting on the scoresheet occasionally, scoring bangers from time to time and keeps on making a goal contributions here and there. It could be said that he has a similar playing style to that of Thiago Alcantara.

However, with Tielemans, Arsenal will get more physicality and energy onto the pitch than what Thiago provides. The Belgian is also very good at winning the ball and starting a counter straightaway. In addition to that, he has enough Premier League experience at just 25-years of age. He certainly has the potential to achieve a lot more in the future.

Mikel Arteta prefers to play a 4-2-3-1 formation which works perfectly for Tielemans. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers also plays the same formation, with the midfielder implementing his role to perfection. The Belgian will be playing alongside Thomas Partey in a double pivot, giving the perfect balance to the Arsenal midfield. Granit Xhaka has been a constant source of bad discipline and inconsistency.

This has made the Swiss international less reliable for the Spanish manager. Whereas, the Leicester midfielder is extremely dependable and could be the last jigsaw piece in Arteta’s system if he plays next to Partey. With Partey’s aggression and Tielemans’ composure, Arsenal’s midfield will be in safe hands with those two running the show.

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