Arsenal are reportedly set to make a second offer to sign Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, who the north London side have been eyeing for the majority of the summer transfer window.
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri via Football London, the Gunners remain interested in Tielemans with just a few days of the window left to go, with the midfielder believed to be open on a move to Arsenal should Mikel Arteta match Leicester’s asking price of £25m.
With reports this week suggesting that Arsenal have made Wolves winger Pedro Neto their transfer priority, signing Tielemans could happen very late on in the window, with the deadline next Thursday at 11pm, and with a winger seemingly more important, a second offer could be made in ten days time.
Arsenal has strengthened the midfield this summer with the signings of Fabio Vieira and Oleksandr Zinchenko, yet Tielemans would still be a welcome addition for the Premier League leaders, with the Belgian viewed by many as a long-term replacement for Granit Xhaka.
Lauded by former Leicester captain Wes Morgan as a ‘special’ player, Arsenal preparing a second offer to sign Tielemans is a strong indicator that the Gunners are looking to end the transfer window on a high note, especially if the north London side can also bring in Wolves star Neto.
Indeed, the aim for this summer for Arsenal has been to bulk out the squad with quality options, and signing Tielemans from Leicester, despite Xhaka’s immense form in the current system this season, will do just that for the north London side.
Arsenal have to sign Tielemans despite Xhaka’s new role this season
The first three games of the season have seen Xhaka play a more advanced role in the Gunners midfield, with the signing of Zinchenko allowing the Swiss captain to push up higher on the pitch with the Ukrainian international tucking in as cover, yet despite this, Arsenal should be looking to sign Tielemans.
After all, injuries are bound to happen at some point this season, and a quality replacement for Xhaka as well as a long-term successor to the midfielder is key for Arsenal, something Tielemans can provide and then some for the north London side in the years to come.
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