Youri Tielemans' four-year spell at Leicester City looks set to be reaching a natural conclusion with Arsenal hoping to secure the Belgian midfielder on a free transfer at the end of the 2022/23 season.
The 25-year-old's contract expires in the summer and he is not going to sign an extension with the Foxes as he searches for a move elsewhere. Football.london reported in the summer the Gunners have already agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old, but are willing to wait until next summer to sign Tielemans on a free transfer when his contract expires.
With all that being said, football.london has rounded up all the latest speculation surrounding a potential move for the Belgian international below.
READ MORE: Chelsea control Arsenal's transfer race as Real Madrid hold advantage for Bellingham alternative
Leicester 'braced' for Arsenal offer
Everything was pointing to the Tielemans transfer saga ending in the summer when the Belgian can leave on a free transfer at the end of his contract, but that could no longer be the case with Arsenal's January transfer plans changing.
The Mirror are now reporting that Arsenal are ‘ready to test Leicester’s resolve' and any decent offer in January 'will be very tempting' for the Foxes because of the financial hit taken by missing out on European football last season.
The report adds that Leicester are ‘braced’ for an offer which could be a bid around the £20 million mark which would be enough for the club to consider selling.
Real Madrid declare interest
Mikel Arteta seemingly had a free run at Tielemans for the 2023 summer window after fending off interest from Liverpool, but a new report indicates the Belgian midfielder has interest from Spain.
SPORT, are reporting that Real Madrid will turn to Tielemans if they are unable to secure the signing of Jude Bellingham. The Borussia Dortmund midfielders future is up in the air following heavy interest from top European clubs and recent comments made by Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. He claimed talks would begin regarding his future after the World Cup.
Chelsea are one of many clubs also after Bellingham and could have a significant say in Arsenal's bid to sign Tielemans if they beat Madrid to the signature of the Borussia Dortmund star.
It's also worth noting Madrid hold a slight advantage of the Gunners as they would be able to agree a deal with a pre-contract because they are a club outside of England.
Rodgers provides January Tielemans update
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has ruled out the January sale of Arsenal transfer target Youri Tielemans. The Belgian is open to leaving the Foxes in June on a free transfer after turning down countless new offers and has been linked with a possible January move to north London.
"It's not something we are thinking of [selling Tielemans] and not anything the club have said we need to do," Rodgers said. "We don't want to be offloading our best players, that's for sure.
“So there has been no hint or indication we need to generate money and move him on. But, of course, there's a business side to the club that they will look at.
"We have a number of players out of contract come the end of the season. My focus has been on working with him and getting out of the situation we are in. So everything else is not really spoken about from my perspective.
“We had a number of long chats in the summer. There is clearly no doubt even a young guy who is clearly focused like Youri and very professional, it can have an impact. But he has been fully focused.
“He doesn't let that affect him. He is a top-class professional. He sees the game how I see it. On the field he understands what is happening within the game and that's all he can do, give his very best. His recent performances have been excellent.”
Leicester fresh stance
Leicester are still hoping for £30million for Youri Tielemans and able to hold out after for a higher fee after selling Wesley Fofana to Chelsea in a deal worth around £80million, according to CBS Journalist Ben Jacobs.
Earlier in the window, Arsenal used intermediaries to discuss a fee for the Belgian star and wanted to pay £23m, but this didn’t lead to a formal bid.
The Foxes are still anticipating three Premier League clubs to make late moves for Tielemans, but they won’t sell at a drastically reduced price, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United having all been linked with a move for the 25-year-old.
£19m bid from 'mystery club'
According to Football Insider, Leicester have received a £19million offer for the 25-year-old from a 'mystery club' with just 48 hours left to go in the transfer window.
Whilst this could suggest a rival team has made an offer for the Belgian midfielder, it could actually turn out that Arsenal have made a late move for Tielemans after agreeing personal terms with the player earlier this summer.
Read more here.
Price drop
Leicester City may have to drop their price to roughly £17million for Youri Tielemans to leave the club this summer, according to Belgian outlet Niewsblad.
The Foxes' midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal with just one-year remaining on his contract. The report claims that if the expected price is lowered by Leicester, then interested clubs are likely to jump back on a move, with the Gunners eyeing a potential late bid.
Bid expected
Transfer guru Sacha Tavolieri has now claimed that the next week could see a bid come in for Tielemans, with Sandro Tonali and Moises Caicedo two potential alternatives for the Gunners. Writing on Twitter, Tavolieri said: "Youri #Tielemans stay in # Arsenal's target lists, ready to make a second bid next week for #LCFC midfielder."
Three-man shortlist
Transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri has said that Youri Tielemans is one of three players on a potential shortlist for Arsenal before the end of the window. He tweeted that Moises Caicedo and Sandro Tonali are both options, though the Belgian still remains a priority over those two.
Arteta priority
A move for Youri Tielemans is still "top of the list" for Mikel Arteta, according to Fabrizio Romano on the Que Golazo podcast. The reporter claims that no official bid has been made yet, but should the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles leave, then he is likely to make the switch.
Decision made
According to the Athletic, Arsenal will only make a move for Tielemans if they are to sell fellow central midfielder Granit Xhaka this summer. This appears to be rather unlikely considering how important Xhaka is to Mikel Arteta's side at this moment in time.
In fact, another report from the Athletic claims that the Swiss international is part of a new three-man leadership group at the Emirates Stadium along with captain Martin Odegaard and new signing Gabriel Jesus.
Leicester stay
Leicester City could look to keep hold of Youri Tielemans this summer, reports the Times. The Belgian is out of contract next summer, meaning the Foxes may lose the midfielder on a free transfer, should he not commit to a new deal at the King Power Stadium.
That looks unlikely at this stage, though, meaning an exit next year is more likely, should the report stand true.
Gunners prepared to wait
Arsenal are prepared to wait until Youri Tielemans' current contract expires to secure the Belgian on a free transfer, football.london understands.
The Gunners have had an agreement with the player in place for some time and are confident of getting him for less than Leicester's current asking price.
Arsenal were put off the Foxes' demands of £32million for the Belgian midfielder, feeling it was too high for a player with just one year remaining on his deal. Edu is in no rush to sign the player, although external factors could change the situation rapidly.
Read more here.
Deal unlikely
According to The Athletic, a deal now appears 'unlikely' for Tielemans to arrive at the Emirates Stadium this summer. They claim that it is now probable that the Belgian will stay at the King Power this summer.
Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers is said to want five or six new signings, but Leicester need to sell before they can buy.
Asking price lowered
Leicester are now willing to let Tielemans leave the club for a lower asking price of £25million, according to the Evening Standard.
The midfielder is into the final 12 months of his contract, and with Leicester aware, he currently has no plans to sign an extension.
Arsenal are yet to make a formal offer for the Belgium international, and the Gunners will get the chance to see first-hand what they are potentially missing out on when Leicester travel to north London for the big clash at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, August 13.
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."
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."
Rodgers delivers update
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has delivered an update on the 25-year-old's future, admitting that no progress has been made with a new contract. "There's no update at all," Rodgers said when quizzed on Tielemans' contract negotiations.
"He's an amazing guy to work with. He's just rejoined the club (for pre-season), and he's pretty much the same. In training, he's very committed. He's happy in his work, and he's happy at the club. But naturally, with a year in his contract, he may feel he has to look at everything for him and his family. But I certainly know he's committed here while he is here.
"I'll have a good chat with Youri next week to get privately what he's thinking. But it won't change, whether he's leaving or staying for another five years, he'll still be super committed."
When asked if the Foxes would accept the player staying for the final 12 months of his contract before leaving on a free transfer next summer, the Northern Irishman added: "I'm not sure. For that to happen, that means there's been no acceptable offer, or there hasn't been an offer. That's the reality.
"From Youri's perspective, he'll continue to train and work. He's very focused on getting himself fit, and like he always is with the team, he's a great guy to have in the squad. Until that changes, I will give everything to keep developing him and the team. There is a possibility, but we have to wait and see."
Newcastle worry
Newcastle United have stepped up their interest in Tielemans. The club's sporting director Dan Ashworth has personally made enquiries about the Arsenal target as the Magpies search for reinforcements in the midfield.
Read more via this link.
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."
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."
Belgian breaks silence
Tielemans has admitted that leaving Leicester City this summer isn't out of the question. When asked if he could leave the King Power this summer, the talented playmaker said, via The Daily Mail: "That is not out of the question. I feel very good at Leicester, I was welcomed with open arms from day one.
"I give everything for the club until the last day. But of course, you have to listen to other opportunities, you have to look at your career, and sometimes you have to make choices. Maybe one will come my way."
Find out more here.
'Priority' signing
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Tielemans is Arsenal's primary midfield target. Meanwhile, Ruben Neves and Arthur Melo continue to be admired.
He wrote in his Caught Offside column: "Arsenal are taking their time in choosing the new midfielder.
"Ruben Neves and Arthur Melo have been two names on the list for some time, two very popular players in the club; the priority as of now goes to Youri Tielemans."
Pursuit stepped up
Arteta is pushing Arsenal to make an opening £25million offer for Tielemans, according to The Telegraph. football.london previously reported that the Gunners are keen on signing the Belgian, and the aforementioned report claims that Arteta has identified him as one of his leading summer targets.
The player has previously admitted that he is keen to play in the UEFA Champions League next season, but he is now said to be open to the prospect of playing in the Europa League, the European competition the north Londoners will be playing in next term.
Arsenal executive claim
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Arsenal's key decision-makers are all thought to be 'in favour' of pursuing a move for Leicester maestro Tielemans. The Gunners have reportedly been handed some encouragement in the early stages of talks with his representatives.
Rodgers refutes rejection claims
Amid the reports claiming that Tielemans had rejected a new deal at the King Power Stadium, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has hit back. Following the Foxes' 2-2 draw with West Ham United - a game in which the former Monaco man found the net - the northern Irishman refuted that Tielemans had turned down a new deal.
He said: "He hasn't declined. For me, his position is exactly the same as what it was. He's a fantastic player, and there's been no movement whatsoever. He's a player who has continued to work and is working well. Until the last day he's here, whether that's at the end of the contract or summer or beyond that, he will always give his best because he's a top professional, and he showed his commitment today. There's interest trying to be generated by other people."
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