As Arsenal looked to secure their second consecutive Premier League win against Leicester on Saturday, much of the attention was on the heavily-linked Youri Tielemans.
The Gunners have been closely monitoring the Belgian after he entered the last year of his contract, presenting Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu with an opportunity to snap him up in a cut-price deal. The Gunners were initially expected to firm up their interest in the opening weeks of the summer window, but the addition of Fabio Vieira and the lack of departures at the time led to minimal progress being made.
football.london understands Arsenal are now prepared to wait until the 25-year-old's current deal expires in order to secure him on a free transfer next year, although that stance could change if another club joins the race for the midfielder. Arsenal's interest in Tielemans has been well documented throughout the summer and so many of their supporters gave him a warm reception when Leicester visited the Emirates Stadium at the weekend.
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"Youri Tielemans, we'll see you next week", fans chanted as the player was substituted off in the second half. However, it was another long-term Arsenal target that stood out for the Foxes in a 4-2 defeat. James Maddison scored and looked a constant threat going forward, once again highlighting the creativity he so often provides.
Leicester are currently struggling on and off the pitch but Maddison has been one of the very few bright sparks for Brendan Rodgers' side, reportedly leading to transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur following the Gunners pursuit last year.
Arsenal are said to have looked at Maddison before Arteta eventually opted to sign Martin Odegaard on a permanent deal from Real Madrid, but his ability to play in central midfield along with his display on Saturday could once again turn heads. It's becoming increasingly clear that Leicester find themselves in a situation where they must sell first in order to buy, meaning players such as Maddison could become available if suitable offers are received.
Tielemans had the perfect opportunity to show exactly what he can bring to north London should he make the switch in the final weeks of the transfer window, but he failed to live up to expectations. Meanwhile, it was his midfield teammate that reminded Arteta as to why he could perhaps be the better option to chase.
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