Arsenal have been given a potential boost in their long-documented pursuit of Leicester City star Youri Tielemans.
The Gunners are known to be in the market for a new central midfielder, having been linked with the likes of Douglas Luiz, Fabian Ruiz and the Foxes' Belgian playmaker during past transfer windows. The recent performances shown by Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey will come as welcome news to Mikel Arteta but his side is still seemingly a little light in cover with a busy campaign still in its relative infancy.
European football and the upcoming World Cup may throw a potential spanner in the works, while a move for Luiz looks to be out of the question after the midfielder signed a new deal at Villa Park just days ago. Tielemans seems likely to run down his current deal at the King Power Stadium, with some pundits suggesting his head may have already been turned regarding life away from Leicestershire.
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''Well you think what he can do, remember the goal in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, we haven't seen that Youri Tielemans and he can influence a game but he isn't influencing the game as much as he and the manager would like,'' Robbie Savage said on BT Sport following Leicester's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.
''He will be looking at it now, bottom of the league and bids have come in. Big big clubs have been sniffing around Tielemans for a while now and that will be in the back of his mind,'' responded Peter Crouch. ''The performance levels drop down 5% and you find yourselves where Leicester are at the moment.''
Joe Cole added: ''It is hard to accuse him of his head being turned but it does happen naturally as a player. This is a player that has been linked with some of the top teams in European football.
"He will be thinking to himself and looking up thinking I am a Champions League player but you have to perform like a Champions League player. You have to perform in all situations.''
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