Arsenal have reportedly made contact over the possibility of signing Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans this summer.
The Belgium international will soon enter the final 12 months of his contract with the Foxes and is expected to move onto the next chapter in his career for the 2022-23 season.
Arsenal have been most strongly linked with a move for the former Monaco starlet, who has seemingly not been put off by the Gunners' failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Tottenham Hotspur were thought to hold an interest in signing Tielemans, but the Lilywhites have instead agreed a £25m deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for Yves Bissouma.
As a result, Arsenal are stepping up their pursuit of Tielemans as Mikel Arteta desperately seeks to bolster his midfield options for the 2022-23 season.
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According to HLN - via Sport Witness - Arsenal are in regular contact with Tielemans's entourage and are confident about their chances of wrapping up a deal for the 25-year-old.
The report adds that Leicester could demand in excess of €35m (£30.4m) to part ways with Tielemans, in spite of the risk of him leaving on a free transfer at the end of next season.
Tielemans initially arrived at the King Power Stadium on loan from Monaco in January 2019, and Leicester proceeded to fork out £40.5m to sign him permanently that summer after his fast start to life in the Premier League.
The Belgian has since scored 24 goals and set up 24 more in 158 appearances for Brendan Rodgers's side, including the winner in the 2020-21 FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Tielemans scored seven goals and set up five more in 49 games for Leicester last season, including six strikes and four assists from 32 outings in the Premier League.
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Arsenal have tied Mohamed Elneny down to a new one-year deal in North London, and Granit Xhaka is expected to stay put despite flirting with a move to Roma last summer.
However, Matteo Guendouzi's permanent move to Marseille will be confirmed soon, and Lucas Torreira will likely head elsewhere before the transfer window closes.
The Gunners have only announced the signing of 19-year-old Brazilian attacker Marquinhos so far, and goalkeeper Matt Turner will soon arrive from the New England Revolution.
Arsenal remain also in hot pursuit of Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, but Tottenham, Chelsea and AC Milan could rival the Gunners for the Brazil international's signature.
Ben Knapton
