Youri Tielemans is the missing piece in Arsenal’s brilliant summer transfer window

The situation of Leicester’s Youri Tielemans is one of the strangest subplots of the summer.

The Belgian international, who’s emerged as one of the Premier League’s most impressive midfielders since arriving on an initial loan from Monaco in January 2019, is available for a ‘bargain’ price this summer with just a year remaining on his deal at the King Power.

The player himself is understood to be keen on moving on, yet The Athletic report that the chances of Tielemans remaining with the Foxes this summer are increasing. Brendan Rodgers is set to hold talks with the midfielder later this week.

Despite his talent, potential price and Premier League experience, interest in Tielemans hasn’t been widespread. Although, Arsenal are most certainly admirers of the 25-year-old.

Youri Tielemans is the missing piece in Arsenal’s excellent summer window

While the Gunners have missed out on a couple of key targets, including Raphinha and Lisandro Martinez, they’ve nonetheless enjoyed a brilliant summer window thus far. Gabriel Jesus has the potential to transform their attack, while the creative Fabio Vieira is regarded by many as one of Europe’s brightest young playmakers. Oleksandr Zinchenko, meanwhile, is the ideal alternative to the versatile Martinez.

Mikel Arteta is slowly cultivating a technically proficient squad that, once nurtured and refined, will be capable of suffocating opponents and monopolising possession week in, week out. They’re following the Manchester City template of relentless sustained pressure.

The impending arrival of Zinchenko will almost certainly not be the last piece of business Arsenal conduct this summer. The club will move on efficiently to the next target, which may well be a Raphinha alternative, but surely it’s time to wrap up a deal for Tielemans – who will undoubtedly be miffed at the lack of interest he’s garnered.

Arsenal’s relaxed stance towards the Leicester star is surprising considering their needs in midfield. While Zinchenko is capable of operating as the left-sided #8 in the 4-3-3 Arteta wants to inculcate, the club require another addition.

That’s because Zinchenko has primarily been signed to provide cover – and potentially usurp – Kieran Tierney at left-back. Arteta’s desire to evolve the Gunners into Man City lite will be aided by the inclusion of the Ukrainian, who could perform an inverted function and slide alongside Thomas Partey in midfield in a 3-2-5 or 2-3-5 possession structure. Tierney, on the other hand, doesn’t boast the requisite technique to perform reliably in more central areas, and he’s much better suited to getting on the overlap down the left touchline.

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The utilisation of Zinchenko in an inverted role gives the Gunners greater presence in central areas, thus providing more protection in defensive transition, and it allows the wingers to isolate their full-backs one-vs-one. The Ukrainian’s deployment deeper in the left half-space renders Granit Xhaka, who often dropped deep from midfield in the build-up last season and was rarely present in the final third, surplus to requirements.

In essence, the introduction of Zinchenko will allow Arteta to replicate Pep’s “free eights” dynamic in midfield. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva and Bernardo Silva have all starred for Guardiola performing such a role, and Tielemans – alongside Martin Odegaard or Fabio Vieira – could be that guy for Mikel.

While the Belgian is primarily a second-phase controller, he is adept in the final third. Tielemans is subtle enough in tight spaces to evade pressure, while his vision and ability to play almost every pass in the book means he can pick the lock in the stingiest of defensive structures.

For the price available (£30m), it’s pretty staggering that Arsenal are yet to make a move for a player that’d add further control to Arsenal’s midfield as well as further creativity in the final phase. Arteta’s coherent structure means his woes in defensive transition will be masked somewhat, too.

A deal for Youri Tielemans is one the club has to get over the line. If so, they’d then be just one more addition away (high-quality depth out wide) from the PERFECT summer transfer window.