Arsenal have been informed that Champions League qualification will be essential if they are to sign Youri Tielemans this summer.
The Gunners look set for another busy summer transfer window, as Mikel Arteta continues his ambitious overhaul at the club. Now coming towards the end of his second full season in charge, Arteta has Arsenal on the verge of a top-four finish, knowing a win over Tottenham on Thursday would confirm a place back in Europe’s top competition.
And according to reports in Belgium, that will play a key role in their pursuit of Leicester City midfielder Tielemans, who is said to be firmly on Arteta’s radar in the coming months. HBVL via Sport Witness reported that the Gunners and Manchester United were both keen on the 29-year-old, who will become a free agent at the end of next season.
However, United’s dramatic loss of form which has seen them drop completely out of the running for the top four, has likely taken them out of the running. In fact, Voetbalkrant claim that a move to Old Trafford is ‘no longer an option’ for Tielemans, who looks set to leave the King Power having failed to come to an agreement on a contract extension.
It is suggested that Tielemans wants an element of certainty in regards to Arsenal’s participation in the Champions League, before he gives his ‘blessing’ to move forward with negotiations. The Foxes crashed out of Europe themselves last week, losing out to Roma in the Europa Conference League semi final.
In the aftermath of the defeat in Rome, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers admitted that some of his star assets, having had a taste of Europe over the last few seasons, will now want more, with his side destined for a disappointing mid-table finish this term.
“I think it is one certainly a lot of the players will have felt the joy and experience of playing nights like tonight in Europe,” he said. “You see the likes of James Maddison, how good he has been over the two legs. He is a player with personality and quality and he deserves that opportunity.
“Hopefully the players will go away and feel the motivation from being in Europe and then we can really fight to be in a European position next season.”
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Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arteta is confident he will be active this summer, regardless of whether they secure a Champions League return for the first time since 2017. Asked if he planned on being busy, he said: “I am expecting so, yes.
“I think both competitions [the Champions League and Europa League] require a much larger squad because the amount of games you play is much bigger in both, so I don’t think [which you qualify for] makes a lot of difference or changes a lot.
“If you can financially afford it and we don’t have to do the turnaround in the squad that we’ve had to do, if you ask me what I want it’s 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers. You have to come a long way in the aspects that you see on the pitch, it’s a lot of things that have to be put in place, and that takes time.”
