Arsenal in pole position for £25m Premier League midfielder

Having stopped the rot in the Premier League with a 4-2 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday, one of the more surprising aspects of the win was that it came with an Arsenal side boasting a string of forgotten or unfavoured stars.

Rob Holding was excellent when Arsenal reverted to a back five and his job was solely to defend his box. Eddie Nketiah, meanwhile, put in his finest display in an Arsenal shirt with a combination of predatory instincts and composure seeing him grab his first league goals of the season.

The other noteworthy inclusion who defied the odds was Mohamed Elneny. A touch sloppy to start, the Egyptian, making just his second start of the season, was outstanding in the centre of the pitch both on the ball and off it. If Arsenal are to clinch top four this season it will be contributions like his showing at Stamford Bridge that help push them towards it.

But everyone knows he isn’t a long-term solution. Due to depart in the summer when his contract expires, there would be outrage were he to be handed a new deal, with the upcoming window to be one where Arsenal continue refreshing the team and add top level quality.

Arsenal in pole position for £25m Premier League midfielder Youri Tielemans who is set for Leicester departure in summer transfer window

Midfield is a hugely important area of the pitch, especially given Thomas Partey’s deeply troubling injury record. Names have been flung around in abundance, although it is Youri Tielemans’ name that has remained a constant since the turn of the year.

Word of the Gunners’ interest first came from CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs and was then corroborated by Charles Watts, who confirmed a meeting with the Belgian’s agent around Christmas time, and the former has provided another update.

"“Arsenal have been in talks for around a year with Tielemans,” he told arsenal442.“Tielemans is a player both Edu and Arteta admire. Arsenal are the frontrunners, currently. Arsenal have met with Tielemans’ agent on multiple occasions to discuss a possible move. They already know he won’t sign a new deal at Leicester and could be available for as little as 25 million.”"

There is no argument over the fee. With just over one year left to run on his deal it means Leicester will have to sell this summer, and for a player of his quality and age, £25m is a bargain.

Manchester United are the other side most closely following the 24-year-old, although the outcome of the top four race, which Saturday’s game with the Red Devils will play a major part in, will surely impact the midfielder’s decision making.

While Jacobs adds that Arteta wants to make sure Tielemans is ‘defensively disciplined’ enough for his system, it’s still hard to work out where he would fit into the current setup. The Gunners’ 4-3-3 shape has two pieces set in their roles, with Partey at the base and Martin Odegaard as the right No.8/10 hybrid – the latter of those positions being where Tielemans operates.

Not of the same profile, he and Odegaard nonetheless play in very similar areas of the pitch and unless there is a change of side for him, which would be tough for a right-footed player, then it’s tough to see where he fits in.

But maybe it’s about competition? Arsenal are trying to step up a level and they need quality depth in key areas. Tielemans would arrive for a nominal fee for a player of his quality and boasts international and Premier League experience.

This is very concrete interest. It’s also very exciting interest.