Former England and Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has told Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans to complete a summer transfer to Arsenal.
Since his move to the King Power Stadium in 2019 for £32million, having first spent six months on loan from Monaco, the Belgian international central midfielder has been a key figure for the Foxes and helped them win the 2020/21 FA Cup, as well as helping Brendan Rodgers’ side reach the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League this season.
However, despite his success across 158 appearances for Leicester since the start of 2019, Bent believes that the Belgian midfielder is perfectly made for Arsenal, with reports suggesting he could be available for only £25million this summer with just a year remaining on his contract.
“If he was to leave, I would like him to come to Arsenal. I really like him, Youri Tielemans,” Bent told talkSPORT.
“I think he is a very good player, he starts in that Belgium team as well. He has got good quality to him. I think he fits in at Arsenal nicely, I really do.”
At just 25, Tielemans already has a catalogue of experience under his belt. He has played over 300 times in the top-flights of Belgian, French and English football.
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The former Monaco man has played 139 times for Anderlecht in Belgium’s top-flight, 47 times in Ligue 1 for Monaco and 120 times for Leicester in the Premier League.
He also already has 49 international caps to his team but missed out on making it a half century on Friday night. Tielemans was in the Belgium squad for their meeting with Netherlands in the Nations League but fell to a shock 4-1 defeat in Brussels, with Tielemans and unused substitute in the game.
Tottenham Hotspur winger Steven Begwijn opened the scoring with Memphis Depay (twice) and Denzel Dumfries also scoring to give the Dutch a 4-0 lead with a quarter of the game remaining. Forgotten Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi clawed a late consolation goal back for the hosts.
Arsenal will return to European football next season after a fifth-placed finish, but they narrowly missed out on qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Should they sign Tielemans, who has been linked with an exit from Leicestershire this summer, it may boost Mikel Arteta’s chances of a successful season and Europe and in the Premier League next term.
Arsenal will be joined by Manchester United, who avoid dropping down to the Europa Conference League on the final day of last season, despite losing to Crystal Palace 1-0.
