With a free transfer looming, Arsenal target Fabrizio Romano says he will ‘100%’ not sign a new contract.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal target Youri Tielemans has “100%” opted against signing a new deal with Leicester City.
The present contract of the Belgian midfielder expires next year.
During the summer transfer window, he was linked with a move to Arsenal, with Leicester open to offers in the region of £30 million.
No offer came in, however, and Tielemans stayed put.
He started the season relatively slowly but has gradually improved, as has Leicester as a whole.
With Thomas Partey injury-prone and Albert Sambi Lokonga yet to fully adapt to English football, signing a new central midfielder is probably on the agenda when the transfer window opens in January.
Arsenal failed to sign Douglas Luiz on deadline day after having three bids rejected by Aston Villa.
The Brazilian is a different type of midfielder to Tielemans, so it will be interesting to see if the Gunners try to sign him on a cut-price deal in the winter window, or if they will go for someone similar to Luiz – who has since penned a new long-term contract at Villa Park.
Mikel Arteta is also thought to be keen on signing a new winger in January, with Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk a reported target.
You got the impression in the summer that Arsenal would have made a move for Tielemans if another club bit the bullet, so this could happen in the winter, as opposed to waiting on him being available for nothing six months later.
And the 25-year-old is expected to be a free agent next year unless he completes a move in January.
This is according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who says there is no chance Tielemans pens a new Leicester contract.
“It is quiet because he will not sign a new contract with Leicester. 100 percent,” he said on the House of Champions Podcast.
“He’ll walk away for free.” He made his decision a year ago.
“I see Tielemans leaving for free, and I see Tielemans as a major market opportunity.”
“He’s undervalued because he’s young, talented, Premier League proven, and a fantastic midfielder in a position where top players are hard to come by.”
“There will be a major race; Arsenal wanted him last summer, and other English clubs are looking into it.”
Tielemans has been connected with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Liverpool, in addition to Arsenal.
