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Journalist claims Arsenal ‘lost belief’ in Leicester ace Tielemans

By on September 6, 2022

Youri-Tielemans-leicester-city

Arsenal were linked with a move for Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans throughout the recently concluded transfer window, however, Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t make any concrete approach to sign the Belgian before the deadline.

The Gunners made five major acquisitions in the summer but there are still a few issues in the squad that remain unaddressed. Midfield and the wings are the two key areas where they’ve failed to add more options this summer.

Meanwhile, the north London club tried to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz on deadline day and made three bids to secure a deal for the Brazilian, however, Steven Gerrard’s side stood firm and didn’t allow his departure.

Speaking on the GiveMeSport, journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that the offer of £23m that Arsenal made for Luiz on deadline day ‘would have been enough’ to sign Tielemans. So, the journalist assumes that Arteta’s side ‘lost belief’ in the Belgium international and thought the 25-year-old might not be the ‘right fit for their team’.

O’Rourke also said that although the Gunners were interested in signing the Leicester star, their interest wasn’t firm enough to make a move in this summer transfer window.

Arsenal ‘lost belief’ in Tielemans

O’Rourke said:

“The offer of around £23m for Douglas Luiz would have been enough to land Tielemans – so I think we can take from this that Arsenal lost belief that he was the right fit for their team. They were interested but not interested enough.”

Perhaps Arsenal were looking to sign a deep-lying midfielder than a more advanced one. Although Tielemans can be deployed anywhere in the middle of the park, the 25-year-old doesn’t play often in the holding midfield role for Leicester.

So, they went for Douglas Luiz who is a defensive midfielder by trait. Meanwhile, given that Tielemans and the Brazilian both seemingly wanted to join the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners may reignite their interest in them in January.

Both midfielder’s current contracts with their respective clubs will expire at the end of this season, so, Arsenal could manage to sign them up for a relatively cheap price in January or for free if they wait until the next summer.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see what Arsenal decide about their midfield department in the upcoming transfer window. Signing both Tielemans and Luiz would be a shrewd decision by Arteta’s side and give them genuine depth in midfield.

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