Speaking on The Done Deal Show, CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has been discussing Youri Tielemans and Arsenal’s interest in the midfielder.
The Gunners have been linked with Tielemans for the longest time now, but after the signing of Fabio Vieira this week, there have been reports that the Gunners’ interest in the Belgian is waning.
However, according to Jacobs, the Leicester City midfielder remains on Arsenal’s radar, and while they have backed off a little bit, a move to the Emirates for the ‘special’ midfielder shouldn’t be discounted yet.
What’s been said?
Jacobs spoke about Tielemans and Arsenal.
“It’s incorrect to say anything other than that Arsenal have advanced things with Tielemans in the last seven days. The feeling was that Arsenal would swoop in after the international deal and get it done. Instead they progressed things with Vieira, but Tielemans is still on their radar,” Jacobs said.
“Arsenal have put in a heck of a lot of work on this deal, dating back a year, they’ve agreed terms with the player, but at no point have they tabled an offer with Leicester City. Arsenal always felt they wanted to pay £25m, but Leicester want closer to £30, £31 or £32m.”
“Tielemans isn’t off the table, but it’s fair to say that Arsenal have backed off for now and it remains to be seen whether they come back a bit more definitively or aggressively later in the window.”
“Arsenal are Tielemans are still in some contact, it’s not impossible that they will get Tielemans and Vieira in this window, it’s just less likely that it will happen before the month is out.”
Worthwhile
If Arsenal can still sign Tielemans for a fee of around £30m, it would still be a worthwhile signing.
Yes, Vieira has arrived, but the Portuguese ace is more of an attacking midfielder, while Tielemans can operate as more of a deep-lying player who could act as a replacement for Granit Xhaka.
Arsenal need to plug a number of problem positions this summer and they certainly need a new midfielder in the mould of Tielemans.
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