Arsenal are facing a fresh battle with Manchester City and Real Madrid for the transfer of Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans in the summer sales, according to Foot Mercato.
Tielemans will be one of the hottest properties this off-season when the Belgian enters the final year of his contract. The 24-year-old is yet to extend his terms at the King Power since moving to the East Midlands from Monaco in 2019, following a successful five-month loan.
Arsenal are among a host of top European sides who are keeping close tabs on Tielemans’ situation at Leicester. Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also increasingly interested. While Man City have now entered the race, and speak regularly with his agent.
Pep Guardiola envisages Tielemans taking over the Manchester City engine room with a transfer from Leicester. He appreciates how the 47-cap international would complement his tactics and can prove a valuable asset for the Etihad Stadium natives’ future ambitions.
However, Real Madrid are edging ahead in the race for Tielemans’ transfer as the Leicester star dreams of the Galacticos. He would choose a move to the Santiago Bernabeu above all this year if given free rein. While Los Blancos admire him as they look to refresh their core.
Real Madrid accept they need to look to the future and sign replacements for their current engine room occupants. Luka Modric is 37 this September, Toni Kroos turned 32 in January and Casemiro enjoyed his 30th birthday last month. Eduardo Camavinga, meanwhile, is 19.
Leicester resigned to losing Arsenal, Man City, Real Madrid target Tielemans
Leicester are resigned to losing Tielemans amid transfer interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid given his contractual situation. The Foxes may also have to lower their €40m (£33.5m) price tag if he continues refusing new terms to avoid his free exit next year.
Man City speaking with the Belgian’s agent and Tielemans’ preference being Real Madrid is a blow for Arsenal amid their pursuit of the Leicester midfielder’s transfer, however. 90min cited the Gunners’ long-standing interest in February, plus Chelsea and Newcastle United’s.
They also noted the Foxes would like to value Tielemans as high as £40m, despite his deal ending in 2023. Having a wide pool of top suitors across Europe would help the King Power natives maintain their lofty demands, in a player whom Emile Heskey believes is top-draw.
“Tielemans is a fantastic player,” he told Goal. “Tielemans is the kind of player that would suit any midfield and any team. He excites you, he does the simple things very, very well… He is so crisp with his passing, he would fit into any team.”
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