Arsenal are reportedly willing to offer £20 million to sign Youri Tielemans, a target for Barcelona in January.
According to Sport, Arsenal want to lead the chase for Youri Tielemans and tie up a deal for Youri Tielemans in January. The Gunners are reportedly willing to offer £20 million next month to take the 25-year-old to the Emirates and beat the competition from Barcelona.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recently insisted the club will be highly active during the January transfer window, thus fueling hopes of signing key stars next month. The Gunners sat on top of the Premier League before the World Cup break, leading Manchester City by five points.
There is certainly a huge reason for Arteta to ask the club’s board to sanction important moves and strengthen the team. A title challenge is on the cards, but even so, their priority is still finishing in the top four. Arsenal need key players in a few positions and add quality to their somewhat thin squad.
A striker may become essential following Gabriel Jesus’ injury, although Arteta’s priority in the window is to bring in a new winger and defensive midfielder. They also wanted someone in the other central position, with Youri Tielemans their primary target.
The form of Granit Xhaka since the season began left Arteta relaxed over the pursuit of the Belgian, as he switched to signing a defensive midfielder late in the window. Arsenal saw multiple bids rejected by Aston Villa for Douglas Luiz, who has since signed a new deal.
The Gunners are reportedly pursuing Danilo from Palmeiras, with the midfielder likely to move during January. As for the central midfield position, Arsenal are back in the hunt for Tielemans, whose contract expires in the summer.
Several reports claimed Edu Gaspar was not convinced by Leicester City’s asking price last summer. The Sporting Director may have decided to wait until the summer to get him on a free contract, considering Tielemans is keen on moving to the Emirates.
Barcelona remain linked with a move. The Catalan giants fear Arsenal may have stolen the march over Tielemans as the Belgian could swiftly move to the Emirates in January or after the season. The latest story suggests the Gunners could make a £20 million offer to tempt Leicester into a sale, something that would appease the Foxes.
When they brought him from Monaco, the Premier League side had invested close to £40 million in the midfielder. While they remain hopeful of agreeing on an extension, Tielemans remains keen on a new adventure, thus putting the Foxes at risk of losing the star on a free transfer.
Realistically, Arsenal are better off waiting until the end of the season than offering £20 million in January. The Gunners are stocked in the position, although Tielemans will boost their chances of winning the Premier League if he arrives.
