Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers appears to have inadvertently offered a major clue into the future of Youri Tielemans with Arsenal chasing the signing of the Belgian international.
The former Anderlecht and Monaco starlet is out of contract next summer and is widely expected to bring his stay at the King Power Stadium to an end in the upcoming window as the Foxes aim to cash-in on his talents as opposed to losing him for free in the future.
Arsenal have emerged as one of his prime suitors, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta having making Tielemans one of his top targets as he aims to continue his rebuild at the Emirates Stadium. As it stands, the North Londoners have not agreed a deal to sign the midfielder, with a fee yet to be finalised with Leicester.
Further, negotiations with the Belgian himself are yet to be completed, but Foxes boss Rodgers has hinted that his side need a multitude of additions in the centre of the park ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Speaking after Leicester’s 5-1 thumping of already-relegated Watford at Vicarage Road, he was asked whether Leicester are aiming to strengthen in midfield this summer. Rodgers responded: “100 per cent. My teams normally have more midfield players because of the nature of how we work to dominate that part of the field. We need that.
“There’s been too big a burden on some of our players this year. Other players have maybe not stepped up and given us the quality we need, so some of the guys have had to continually play. For sure, that’s an area I would say we need at least two.”
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The Northern Irishman’s comments are particularly interesting considering that Leicester already appear to be well-stocked in midfield. Even with the expected departure of Tielemans, they still have the likes of Wilfred Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Nampalys Mendy, Hamza Choudhury and summer signing Boubakary Soumare to call upon.
That is without even taking into consideration the return of Tielemans' international teammate Dennis Praet, who has spent the season on loan at Serie A side Torino. As a result, Rodgers’ demand for midfield signings could provide a huge clue that Tielemans is set to be on the move this summer, although whether his next destination is Arsenal remains to be seen.
The Gunners have a considerable need for additions in the middle of the park. Mohamed Elneny is out of contract at the end of the campaign and could be set to depart the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer, even though the Gunners appear keen to extend his stay.
Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka’s future in north London remains uncertain, having been strongly linked with a move to Roma last summer. A move failed to come to fruition but Jose Mourinho ’s interest is expected to remain, with Manchester United ’s Nemanja Matic also under consideration at the Stadio Olimpico.
Should the pair depart, that would leave just Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga as the Gunners' only senior options for the midfield pairing regularly seen under Arteta.
