Arsenal are reportedly ‘well placed’ to sign Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, who is set to be out of contract at the end of this season.
The Gunners have been heavily linked with the Belgium international over the past year.
It was initially expected that he would leave Leicester last summer as he entered the final year of his contract at The King Power Stadium.
The Foxes valued him at around £30m last summer but no one made a move for him. Speaking last November, Brendan Rodgers insisted that he “would love” Tielemans to pen a contract extension.
“In terms of fitness, he’s been OK,” Rodgers said. “He has been a fantastic professional for us, even though he is in a situation with his contract.
“He’s never wavered from his mentality and what he gives to the team. He provides the team with know-how in the game; he is wonderful to work with. I’d love him to sign another deal and continue his journey at Leicester, but we’ll see.”
This appears unlikely though as Tielemans has reportedly indicated that he has no intention to sign a new deal at Leicester City.
With the January transfer window now closed, it looks likely that Tielemans will be a free agent come the end of this season.
Football Insider are reporting that Arsenal are ‘well placed to agree an early deal’ for Tielemans in the coming months.
It is noted that Barcelona and Newcastle United are also ‘plotting to sign’ the centre-midfielder, who is ‘preparing to walk away’ from Leicester City.
Despite this, Arsenal are considered to be the ‘current frontrunners’ to sign Tielemans when he becomes a free agent in July.
It is considered ‘unlikely’ that he will remain at Leicester as ‘all signs point towards’ him moving on at the end of this campaign.
Tielemans is likely to earn a significant pay rise this summer, with him benefiting from several clubs being interested in him.
A separate report from Ben Jacobs adds that Man Utd are also “ones to watch” in the race to sign Tielemans.
“Youri Tielemans is also expected to leave Leicester this summer on a free transfer, barring a U-turn on signing a new deal,” Jacobs explained via Caught Offside.
“Leicester would love to keep him, but Tielemans has been clear for over a year he doesn’t want to extend.
“Arsenal still haven’t ruled out signing him on a free transfer. They were reluctant to pay a transfer fee over the past two windows, but now the Belgian midfielder is a bargain.
“Newcastle also really like Tielemans and Manchester United are one to watch as well.”
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