Leicester pave way for Arsenal, Newcastle to finally sign talisman after tabling £25m bid for thriving replacement

Leicester have lodged a bid totalling £25m in their quest to sign a midfielder who could fill the void left by an Arsenal and Newcastle target, per reports.

The winter World Cup presented many a player the chance to put himself in the shop window. The surprise package in Qatar were Morocco and many of their stars – such as Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi – are being linked with January moves.

The latter, 22, is a central midfielder and plies his trade in France for Ligue 1 side Angers. However, according to L’Equipe and CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs, his future may lay in Leicester.

Jacobs tweeted Brendan Rodgers’ side have bid £25m to sign the Moroccan. The proposed deal would see Angers receive an initial £17m and contains scope to hit the £25m mark at a later date.

Angers are stated to be seeking around £35m for Ounahi who has also been indexed to West Ham and Newcastle.

However, per the Northern Echo, the Magpies may factor into the equation in a different guise.

They report Newcastle are readying ‘formal inquiries’ to sign Leicester pair James Maddison and Youri Tielemans.

Tielemans is viewed as the successor and upgrade on Jonjo Shelvey whose contract expires at season’s end.

The report states the 30-year-old would see his deal automatically extended by a year if he makes two more appearances for the club. However, Newcastle may prevent that to ensure they can clear the deck for a more eye-catching upgrade.

Tielemans would certainly tick that box having been one of Leicester’s most impressive and dependable performers since arriving initially on loan in 2019.

The Belgian, 25, is out of contract in the summer and an Ounahi arrival would pave the way for Leicester to finally cash in on Tielemans in January.

Arsenal have persistently been linked with Tielemans too with their interest dating back to last summer.

If Leicester were to find common ground with Angers and land Ounahi, don’t be surprised to see Newcastle and Arsenal ramp up their efforts to sign Tielemans.

READ MORE: Boehly set to ruin Arteta dream as Chelsea hijack Arsenal deal by tabling £85m bid for star