Arsenal have made Youri Tielemans the club’s ‘top target’ as the Gunners look to add to their midfield options this summer.
Tielemans will enter the final 12 months of his contract at Leicester this summer and has emerged as a leading target for Arsenal, who are anticipating a busy summer of recruitment in the transfer market.
The Belgium international has turned down a new deal with the Foxes and is keen to leave in search of a new challenge, with his availability and Premier League pedigree attractive to Arsenal’s recruitment team.
Tielemans signed for Leicester in a £40m deal from Monaco in 2019 after an impressive loan spell at the King Power Stadium and scored the winning goal as the club won the FA Cup last season.
Named as the Foxes’ Player of the Season in 2020/21, The Athletic are reporting that he has emerged as Arsenal’s ‘top target’ to partner Thomas Partey in midfield next season.
The North Londoners are closing in on Champions League football and can secure their place among Europe’s elite with a win over Tottenham on Thursday, with qualification for the tournament set to be a major boost to transfer plans.
Further additions are expected at centre-forward with both Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract at the end of the season and there has so far been ‘no indication’ of new deals for the duo despite the latter’s recent introduction into the side.
Arsenal do, however, plan to offer Mohamed Elneny a new deal after the midfielder’s performances in recent weeks.
The Egypt international had looked set to leave on a free transfer after a peripheral role for much of the campaign, but has shone since being recalled and has convinced the club that he can make a valuable contribution moving forward.
