Arsenal may now need to sell ‘quite high profile’ star to sign £25m target

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Arsenal may now need to sell a ‘quite high profile’ player before Mikel Arteta can advance his interest in Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans after signing Oleksandr Zinchenko.

That’s according to Goal, who note the Gunners are yet to rule out signing another option for their engine room. Zinchenko can offer Arteta a body in the centre, as well as from left-back, after switching Manchester City for north London for £32m on a four-year contract.

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Tielemans has been on Arsenal’s radar throughout the summer as Arteta looks to improve his midfield ranks. But the Emirates Stadium natives are still yet to submit an official offer to the Foxes after months of discussions with the Belgium international’s representatives.

Leicester are open to granting Tielemans’ transfer amid Arsenal’s interest as the 25-year-old is out of contract next summer. It is also still possible that he follows Zinchenko to the capital, although Arteta could now need to permit the sale of a ‘quite high profile’ option.

Arsenal may now need ‘quite high profile’ exit to advance Tielemans interest

Arsenal are content with the squad Arteta has so far assembled at the Emirates with a deal for Zinchenko taking their spending to circa £115m this summer. The Ukraine international followed £45m striker Gabriel Jesus, plus £34m Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos.

A move for Tielemans may set Arsenal back a further £25m, per The Telegraph, with Arteta driving their interest in the Leicester maestro. But the Spaniard has only received fees for the sales of Matteo Guendouzi and Konstantinos Mavropanos so far in the summer sales.

Marseille have paid Arsenal around £10m to make Guendouzi’s loan a permanent transfer. Stuttgart also spent £3m, rising up to £4.5m, to turn Mavropanos’ temporary switch into a full-time arrangement earlier this summer on top of a £500k loan fee they spent last year.