Leicester City star Youri Tielemans continues to be heavily rumoured with a move to Arsenal this summer, and although the season is now just a few days away, it appears news is still emerging on a potential transfer.
Arsenal have already spent over £110 million this summer, bringing in Manchester City duo Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, as well as young midfielder Fabio Vieira, Brazilian winger Marquinhos and American 'keeper Matt Turner.
But manager Mikel Arteta knows that there's still work to do in the market, and is keen to add to his squad. And it appears that one many is atop of his list in Tielemans.
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Here, football.london has rounded up all the latest chatter regarding a potential move for Tielemans below.
£19.2m windfall to help fund Arsenal's Youri Tielemans transfer
Backup goalkeeper Bernd Leno completed his move to newly-promoted Premier League side Fulham on Tuesday evening whilst Hector Bellerin, Pablo Mari and Lucas Torreira are all said to be close to leaving the Emirates Stadium as well. Bellerin has his heart set on a return to Real Betis, where he spent last season on loan and recent reports have suggested that he is willing to give up the rest of his wages with the Gunners to force through a free transfer to Spain.
Meanwhile, tough-tackling midfielder Torreira has been the subject of interest from Turkish side Galatasaray whilst Pablo Mari has attracted attention from Serie A club Monza. According to Sportrac, Leno was paid £5.2million per year during his time with Arsenal whilst Bellerin, Mari and Torreira are said to be earning £5.72million, £4.42million and £3.9million per year respectively.
This means that the Gunners will be saving £19.24million per annum in wages if they are able to shift the aforementioned trio, windfall that could potentially help fund a move for Leicester City's Youri Tielemans. football.london reported earlier this year that Edu held a meeting with the Belgian international's representatives earlier this year, although no formal offer to the Foxes has been made yet.
However, selling these squad players may allow Arteta and Co to reignite their interest in the 25-year-old, who is into the final 12 months of his contract at the King Power Stadium.
Tielemans 'keen' on Manchester United
Sports journalist Pete O'Rourke has reported that the Belgium would not turn down a move to Man Utd.
The 25-year-old is into the last year on his contract with the Foxes and, according to Fabrizio Romano, he is not considering signing a new deal at the King Power Stadium - meaning Leicester could be forced to sell.
And although Arsenal are reportedly in front of the queue, the player would be interested in a move to Old Trafford.
Move expected
According to transfer guru Ben Jacobs, Leicester are expecting an offer to come in for Tielemans in the near future. Writing on Twitter, Jacobs said: "Leicester also expect an offer soon for Youri Tielemans.
"An Arsenal move still very possible despite the lack of offer to date. It’s £30m Leicester now need. Tielemans wants the uncertainty over his future resolved.
"#MUFC (Manchester United) also still interested."
Deadline set
Arsenal are yet to make an official bid for Tielemans whilst the Foxes have now set a deadline for any deal to be completed for the former Monaco maestro, according to the Evening Standard. Speaking about the Belgian's future over the weekend, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said: "There is that possibility [Tielemans could leave] but there has not been anything for him, we haven’t had any approaches to the club yet on that.
"Of course it is in the back of the mind, that sort of what-if scenario, but he doesn’t want anything to drag on either."
Midfielder 'fully sold' on Arsenal move
Jacobs also revealed more on the battle for Tielemans in an interview with GiveMeSport this week. Manchester United are challenging for the Belgian's signature, but according to Jacobs, the Gunners are his number one choice.
"He's fully sold on a move to Arsenal, so if Manchester United were to bid for Tielemans, they will only get him if Arsenal decide that's fine, go ahead and take the player," CBS reporter Ben Jacobs told GiveMeSport. "It's not really a head-to-head.
"I think that Manchester United's potential interest in Tielemans, which is still to be stood up, could just catalyse Arsenal to make another bid or may have Arsenal say, 'I'm sorry, but we're not interested. Go ahead and join Manchester United if you want."
Transfer problem
Despite Arsenal's apparent interest in Tielemans, a move is yet to be made for the Leicester City midfielder. That's because, according to David Ornstein, the Gunners may have to sell a midfielder to bring one in.
Discussing the move, he said: "The decision makers at the club are all-in on him but it’s more complicated than that because when you speak to people around this situation they make it clear that there may need to be a departure first for Tielemans to come in, be that Granit Xhaka or someone else in that area of the field to free up the space and the finance.”
Personal terms agreed
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Tielemans since last summer, so it is no surprise that reports of a deal have intensified once again this year. According to Jacobs, personal terms between the Gunners and the midfielder are already in place.
"Tielemans wants to join Arsenal, and Edu is still in touch with his agent," he wrote on Twitter. "Arsenal agreed to terms and worked on the deal for a year but never placed an official bid."
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