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Arsenal v Brighton: Carabao Cup pictures
Arsenal have been tipped to back boss Mikel Arteta by signing “no-brainer” Youri Tielemans from Leicester. The Belgian is out of contract at the King Power Stadium at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to clubs in the Champions League.
Former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson believes that Tielemans would be an impressive signing, and questioned whether Arsenal will wait to sign the Belgium international in the summer on a free transfer.
“Yes, he would [be a good signing for Arsenal],” Dawson told Sky Sports. “They have been looking at him for a long, long time. He is coming to the end of his contract, so that would be a no-brainer, I think. Will they wait until the summer? That will be a question. Tielemans, I think it will only be a matter of time.”
Arsenal may back boss Mikel Arteta with further transfers. (Image: GETTY)
Tielemans could provide competition for the favoured midfield trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard. The Ghanaian has struggled with injuries since moving to the Emirates, and Tielemans would be an upgrade on Arteta’s current options in midfield should one of the three miss out after the World Cup amid a tough schedule.
Following Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton, the Spanish coach hinted at possible additions in January. “That’s the squad that we have and we have to utilise it in the best possible way and today we came short, especially because we didn’t do what we have to do in both boxes to win a football match,” Arteta said.
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“We paid that price. It’s the same squad as when we win. I said from day one that we have a short squad because at the end we left some players. It’s what we have. If everyone’s available and no one is injured we are OK, but the moment there is, we know what it is. It’s nothing new. I think I said it the first day after the transfer window.”
Tielemans is not expected to sign a new contract at Leicester and is free to talk to foreign clubs regarding a pre-contractual agreement in January, but fellow Premier League clubs will have to wait until the summer to discuss a potential free transfer with the midfielder.
The Foxes may be persuaded to cash in on their star in January however, as they won’t receive a fee for him if they hold onto Tielemans until the end of the season.