Youri Tielemans is reportedly closing in on joining Arsenal in a £40 million deal, but Real Madrid will be ready to pounce if an opportunity presents itself.
According to a report by The Sun, Youri Tielemans is likely to join Arsenal in a possible £40 million deal in the summer transfer window. But Real Madrid will be waiting in the wings to pounce if the Gunners fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Youri Tielemans has gone from strength to strength since joining Leicester City from AS Monaco. The Belgian international initially moved to the King Power Stadium on a short-term loan deal in January 2019 before completing a permanent transfer in July. And he has been an integral member of Brendan Rodgers’s squad since then, helping deliver the FA Cup last season.
To date, the 25-year-old has turned out 154 times for Leicester City, chipping in with 24 goals and 23 assists in the process. But the Foxes are likely to lose the services of Tielemans in the summer transfer window, as his contract will run out next year, with a renewal nowhere in sight. Such a situation has captured the attention of Real Madrid and Arsenal.
The interest from Real Madrid stems from the uncertainties surrounding the future of Isco, who will likely depart from the Santiago Bernabeu as a free agent in the summer transfer window. In addition, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are not getting any younger, meaning Real Madrid must seek a long-term creative midfield solution.
Tielemans is thus a viable target for Real Madrid, with recent reports claiming he was keen to join Los Blancos. But as per The Sun, the Leicester City playmaker is closing in on moving to Arsenal in a £40 million deal, leaving Real Madrid on the wayside.
Arsenal can do with a more dynamic midfielder in the double-pivot, especially considering Mikel Arteta is unrealistically dependent on Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka. With Albert Sambi Lokonga a backup option at best right now, signing Tielemans will be a step in the right direction.
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But Real Madrid will be waiting in the wings to pounce if the Gunners fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. But following their win over Leeds United on Sunday, Arsenal’s bid to seal a top-four finish has been boosted. The north Londoners could thus beat Real Madrid to the £40 million capture of Tielemans.
