Respected journalist Ben Jacobs has made a significant transfer claim involving a possible move to Arsenal for Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans. 

The lowdown: Arsenal interested in Tielemans

The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to north London this summer, while also being an apparent target for Manchester United.

Following the capture of Fabio Vieira from FC Porto, a recent report from Sky Sports claimed that the Gunners were cooling their interest in the Belgium international.

However, having entered the final 12 months of his contract in the Midlands and seemingly no closer to renewal, one informed onlooker has now suggested that Arsenal retain their interest in signing Tielemans during the ongoing transfer window...

The latest: Tielemans 'wants' Arsenal move

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs has suggested that there remains a distinct possibility that the 52-cap Belgian could move to the Emirates Stadium over the coming weeks.

The CBS reporter said: “Tielemans wants to move to Arsenal, has already agreed terms, and is available at a bargain price of under 35 million. Arsenal haven’t placed a formal bid yet but remain in contact with Tielemans.”

The verdict: Proven performer

Tielemans has already amassed 120 Premier League outings for Leicester since arriving from Monaco, operating for the most part at an extremely high level whilst also scoring the winner in the FA Cup final success over Chelsea in 2021.

That experience in England stands the Belgian in strong stead when it comes to analysing midfield targets for the north Londoners, taking away the need for an adaptation period which would come with signing a target like Lucas Paqueta, who has never plied his trade in the UK.

Last season, the cultured Foxes midfielder - who was dubbed 'pure class' by journalist John Percy during a 7.5-rated Sofascore display containing one goal, two successful dribbles and three interceptions in a 5-2 win over Manchester City in September 2020 - scored six times and provided four assists in 32 Premier League appearances.

Sharing a close stylistic match with such renowned names as Ivan Rakitic, Rodrigo De Paul and another heavily-linked Arsenal target in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (FBRef), Tielemans certainly appears to boast the top-class calibre required to slot straight into Mikel Arteta's ranks. At a previously reported £35m asking price, he should duly be considered a priority capture for Edu and the Emirates hierarchy.