Arsenal are leading the race to sign 25-year-old Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans amidst interest from Barcelona.
According to Football Insider, Premier League leaders Arsenal are the frontrunners for the signature of Youri Tielemans. Mikel Arteta’s men are keen on signing a midfielder ahead of next season. And, they have their eyes set on the 25-year-old.
Tielemans’ current contract at Leicester City ends in the summer. As per the reports, he is unlikely to extend his stay at the club and will look to leave as a free agent. While the Foxes are keen on extending his contract, the player is not interested in a new deal.
The Belgium international wants to join a Champions League club ahead of next season. And, he wants to take advantage of his free agent status. The 25-year-old currently earns £35,000-a-week and is likely to get a huge pay hike when he joins another club in the summer.
Arsenal have identified the opportunity and are willing to go all out to secure his services. Tielemans joined the Foxes back in the summer of 2019 from Monaco. He has been a key part of their squad ever since his arrival. The Belgian midfielder has featured in 186 matches for the club and has 53 goal contributions to his name.
In the ongoing season, the former Monaco star has played 28 matches and has been involved in five goals. It has been a decent season for him and with age on his side, he is a highly sought-after player.
Mikel Arteta’s men are currently leading the title race and are almost certain to feature in next season’s Champions League. They are looking to add another midfielder in the summer as they hope to become a European force once again.
The Gunners did try to secure the Belgian international last summer. But, they couldn’t manage to strike a deal with the club. But, with his contract set to expire they have the perfect opportunity to convince him to join them.
Tielemans’ arrival will bolster the Arsenal midfield and they will have another world-class player in their ranks. They are all set to return to the Champions League after seven long years and it will help them convince the Belgian star. However, the interest from Barcelona and Newcastle United is something that might cause a problem. As a result, it will be an interesting transfer tussle for the Leicester midfielder.
Xavi will look to add a central midfielder to his ranks in the summer. While Barcelona are doing well in La Liga, they had a disappointing time in the Champions League as they failed to reach the knockout rounds. His arrival will add depth as well as allow the manager to rotate his players. The Belgian midfielder is believed to be a perfect fit for the club. The Barcelona boss will feel that adding Tielemans to their ranks will improve their chances in European competitions.
