Arsenal have missed out on signing Leicester City star Youri Tielemans on a free transfer. The Belgian midfielder has agreed a deal to sign for Aston Villa and will undergo a medical with Unai Emery's side this weekend, according to The Athletic.
Tielemans was heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium last summer but the Gunners stalled on completing a deal to sign the 26-year-old. Tielemans had agreed personal terms with Arsenal but Mikel Arteta wanted to wait 12 months to try and sign him on a free transfer when his contract expired at the King Power Stadium.
The Belgium international has been tipped to complete a move to Arsenal after Leicester were relegated at the end of the Premier League season - but instead the Gunners are prioritising a move for West Ham captain Declan Rice, football.london understands. Following their qualification for the Champions League next term, Arsenal want to sign two new midfielders with Rice and Moises Caicedo at the top of the club's shortlist.
Tielemans is now set to complete a move to join Villa, who will compete in the Europa Conference League next season. The 26-year-old joined Leicester from AS Monaco, initially on loan in January 2019, before the move was made permanent six months later.
Despite Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga both being expected to leave Arsenal this summer, a move for Tielemans has not materialised despite consistent links over the last 12 months. The Gunners opted against pursuing a cut-price deal for the midfielder in January and signed Jorginho from Chelsea in a £12 million deal instead.
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It's clear that there has been an adjustment in terms of transfer targets at the Emirates Stadium with Arteta now focused on signing Rice and Caicedo this summer. Chelsea are expected to rival the Gunners for Caicedo's signature, as reported by football.london earlier this month.
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