Arsenal ‘are pushing to sign Youri Tielemans ahead of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’

Arsenal are pressing ahead in their attempts to sign a central midfielder, with Leicester star Youri Tielemans reportedly now identified as their main target. 

Mikel Arteta has already welcomed the arrivals of Fabio Vieira, from Porto, and Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City this summer and is now rumoured to be looking to bolster his midfield further. 

Speaking on the Que Golazo podcast (via Football 365), journalist Fabrizio Romano said that Arsenal had identified Tielemans ahead of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic owing to the Belgian being £40million cheaper. 

Youri Tielemans is said to have been identified as Arsenal’s primary midfield target

Tielemans’ current deal with Leicester runs until June 2023, with the player said to hold no ambition of renewing with the Midlands club, so his value is continually diminishing as the prospect of a potential free transfer next summer looms.

Meanwhile, the Serbian Milinkovic-Savic is well admired across the footballing world and is well touted for a move by the Italian press, but it is made ‘complicated’ by his price tag, which is said to amount to around £68m. 

Milinkovic-Savic enjoyed a stellar campaign for Lazio last season as he scored 11 times and laid on a further 11 goals for his team-mates. 

While many admire Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, his price tag is likely to put a few suitors off 

Despite this, it is unlikely Arsenal will be able to make a bid for the Serbia international with his price tag seemingly ruling them out of the running. 

Nevetheless, Tielemans is likely to depart Leicester this summer and his price tag makes it an attractive proposition for the north London club. 

Recently, Tielemans admitted he was open to the option of exploring pastures new, citing his career as a reason why he might look elsewhere for new options. 

Mikel Arteta will look to add more players to his squad, after Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira 

He said: ‘That is not out of the question. I feel very good at Leicester, I was welcomed with open arms from day one. I give everything for the club until the last day.

‘But of course you have to listen to other opportunities, you have to look at your career, and sometimes you have to make choices. Maybe one will come my way.’

Arsenal are also said to still be in the hunt for defender Lisandro Martinez from Ajax, who has told the Dutch club he wishes to depart this summer. 

Manchester United, with the Argentine’s former boss Erik ten Hag at the helm, are leading the hunt, but Arsenal are not yet out of the race with the player not having ruled out a move to join Arteta’s side.