Arsenal are reportedly ‘convinced’ they can finalise a deal which would see them sign Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans this summer.
The Gunners are looking to bolster their options in midfield in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Mikel Arteta’s side just missed out on sealing a return to Champions League football via the top four in the 2021/22 campaign, but they will be in the Europa League next season.
According to the Mirror, the north London club are confident they can strike a deal with Leicester to bring in Tielemans.
The Belgium international has just over a year left on his current deal, and could be available for a cut-price fee of around £25million.
Although the Gunners will not be playing in the Champions League next season, Tielemans is still said to be keen on a move to the Emirates.
In terms of the striker situation at Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette is said to have agreed a deal to return to former side Lyon when his contract expires this summer.
Like Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah’s contract is also up at the end of June, but the Gunners academy graduate looks set to sign a new deal to extend his stay at the Emirates.
The Mirror report that Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus is Arteta’s first-choice target this summer.
Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham have also been linked with a move for the striker, but Liverpool legend John Barnes thinks he would be better suited to the Gunners.
‘Gabriel Jesus could suit either Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal. Both have good managers and are good clubs,’ Barnes told BonusCodeBets.
‘From a club perspective, Arsenal are more in need of a centre forward than Spurs when you look at the fact that they still have Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
‘But this is modern football; in the old days if a club wanted you, you’d move there, there wasn’t an auction like it is today with other clubs. A player went to the club that came in for them, without a deal being highjacked.
‘From Jesus’s point of view, he also has to ask himself with Kane and Son if he’d be playing regularly in the same position, which he won’t. Arsenal need Jesus more and he’ll be better suited there.’
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