Arsenal ready bid to sign Leicester ace in January, with pursuit boosted by Rodgers locking on to World Cup replacement

Arsenal are preparing a January bid to sign a Leicester star who’ll make an instant impact at the Emirates, and their chances have been boosted by the Foxes lining up a direct replacement who shone in Qatar, TEAMtalk can exclusively reveal.

All eyes are on the Gunners and how they’ll respond to the pressure of leading the league. Arsenal hold a five-point advantage over Man City as domestic football nears its return. However, their forward ranks have recently been deprived of two first-team stars through injury.

Gabriel Jesus has undergone knee surgery, while Mikel Arteta recently confirmed Reiss Nelson picked up an injury that doesn’t look like good news.

A new forward could therefore be signed to soften the blows next month. However, today’s update regards central midfield.

Arsenal have long been linked with a move for Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans. The 25-year-old Belgian is out of contract at season’s end and an exit – in either January or June – looks likely.

Arsenal were heavily linked with the 25-year-old over the summer, though at no point did they submit an official bid. According to TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, the long-awaited bid will finally come next month.

Arsenal prepare bid, as Leicester line up Moroccan

Bailey told us Tielemans is all but certain to be playing for a new club at some stage in 2023 and Arsenal are preparing a January bid.

What’s more, Leicester are growing to accept Tielemans’ future lays elsewhere and are lining up Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi as his direct replacement.

The 22-year-old plays his club football for French club Angers whose president, Said Chabane, recently confirmed (via LeicestershireLive) are seeking an agreement to sell Ounahi in 2023.

Chabane would prefer to sell next summer, though his willingness to entertain offers in the first place is good news for Leicester, and by extension, Arsenal.

Bailey said: “Youri Tielemans has been an outstanding Premier League performer ever since he arrived at Leicester and 2023 will see him leave the King Power Stadium… it’s now just a matter of when?

“Arsenal want a midfielder and Tielemans is now seen as their priority after following him for more than 12 months. He is not seen as a risk, but somebody who can compliment what they already have.

“The Gunners are ready to try and entice Leicester with an offer in January, but if not they will look to land him at the end of the season.

“A January deal could also be helped if Leicester manage to bring in some sort of midfield cover, and that could very well be in the shape of Azzedine Ounahi.

“The Angers man has impressed at the World Cup for Morocco, and he is a player who the Foxes like.”

An alternative target to Tielemans has long been touted as being Palmeiras’ Danilo. However, the trusted David Ornstein recently confirmed the Brazilian is no longer on Arsenal’s radar.

As such, Arsenal’s search for central midfield reinforcements appears to be fully focused on Tielemans. All eyes will be on the size of their proposed bid in January.

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