Mikel Arteta could finally have the missing piece of the jigsaw, with Arsenal reportedly lining up a swoop for Leicester City’s star midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs.
What’s the word?
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT recently, the reliable reporter revealed:
“It’s an intriguing one because they’ve put in a lot of work for Tielemans.
“They know that Tielemans wants Arsenal, so this is not the type of transfer where Arsenal have to worry about player buying. If they move for Tielemans, then Tielemans will join Arsenal.
“But it’s all about what Arsenal want, what’s right for their chemistry and dynamic mid-season, if we’re talking about January.
“Their interest has never gone away. It’s one to watch because he’s in good form now for Leicester and he’s a goalscorer.”
Snap him up
It is a no-brainer for Gunners boss Arteta, who has reportedly been handed £50m to bolster the squad by owner Stan Kroenke in January, and Tielemans fits that bill and then some.
Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers also sparked the fire with recent revelations, stating that whilst there is no desire to sell their coveted asset, “there’s a business side to the club” as well.
Effectively, what this means is the robust midfield force is nearing the end of his stay in Leicester, and it would take something rather drastic to retain his services.
And the statistics back up the hype.
The £40.5m-rated dynamo boasts a varied approach that would suit the north London outfit to a tee, ranking within the top 14% blocks and the top 17% for tackles amongst positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues.
As per SofaScore, he also boasts a rating of 7.2/10 this term, despite the Foxes’ woes, with a stunning passing accuracy of 87% – just imagine this level of assurance in Arteta’s system.
Speaking to GOAL, Emile Heskey once hailed the dynamic and tenacious midfielder as “fantastic” saying he would “fit into any team”, and it’s clear to see why.
The £35k-per-week Belgium international has been a mainstay at the centre of the park for the Foxes, and has popped up with some rather defining moments, alongside an impressive goal contribution tally of 26 goals and 25 assists in 176 appearances.
Scoring the thunderous winning strike in 2021’s FA Cup triumph over Chelsea, Tielemans cemented his status amongst City greats after starring in the club’s maiden trophy in the distinguished cup competition.
What this all means, in a roundabout way, is that the 54-cap international is a player worth salivating over, and as Arsenal’s Spaniard manager looks to fight on multiple fronts this term, he would provide the perfect remedy to potential fatigue and burnout.
Therefore, technical director Edu Gaspar must look to seal a move for Tielemans – who was once dubbed a Belgian “phenomenon” – as he could be the missing piece of the puzzle for the north London giants after the World Cup.
