Arsenal ‘agree personal terms’ with midfielder but bide time as Leicester hold out for £30m
Arsenal have reportely agreed personal terms with Youri Tielemans over a move to the Emirates, but are yet to table an offer for the Leicester star.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for Tielemans for some time and the midfielder admitted earlier this month that he would “listen to other opportunities”.
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When asked if he could move on froom Leicester this summer, Tielemans said: “That is not out of the question.
“I feel very good at Leicester, I was welcomed with open arms from day one. I give everything for the club until the last day.
“But of course you have to listen to other opportunities, you have to look at your career, and sometimes you have to make choices. Maybe one will come my way.”
He was tipped to move swiftly to the Emirates after the international break, though a separate report suggested the club’s interest had cooled following the £34m arrival of Fabio Vieira from Porto.
But CBS journalist Ben Jacobs says Tielemans is still on the Arsenal “radar”, claiming they’ve already agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old.
Jacobs said on The Football Terrace: “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 break and get it done. Instead they progressed things with Vieira, but Tielemans is still on their radar.
“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 all in, but Leicester want closer to £30m, £31m or £32m.”
Jacobs went on to say he still expects Tielemans to leave the King Power Stadium this summer and should other teams come in for him, Arsenal may be forced into action.
And should interest from others not arrive, Arsenal will look to drive the price down.