Arsenal will turn their attentions away from Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta and concentrate on signing Youri Tielemans from Leicester in the coming weeks, Ben Jacobs reports.
The Gunners are being increasingly linked with strengthening their central midfield role in weeks, having completed four deals including Matt Turner, Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus already.
There has been an increase in links over a move to sign Paqueta from the Ligue 1 side in recent days, but with his club believed to be holding out for a large sum, Ben Jacobs claims it is simply a matter of time before we return for Tielemans instead.
“I understand that the Tielemans interest is still there,” Jacobs told 90Min‘s Talking Transfers podcast. “I think that’s much more likely than Paqueta. He didn’t have a great season last season. But at that price, you’ve got to take a swing. Potentially £20 million is all you might be able to get him for including add-ons. And I think that suits Arsenal down to the ground.
“I think Tielemans will be a much better fit. And there is interest still there from Arsenal and I expect that one to get going in the next few weeks.”
I have to agree, the Tielemans deal makes so much sense for numerous reasons. The price is right, he is believed to be keen on coming to the Emirates, and the fact that his contract has run into the last 12 months is a huge factor also.
Do you believe we could be considering more than one CM addition this summer? Does anyone prefer Lucas over Youri?
Patrick
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In season starts in less than a month. If these deals are going to take weeks, is it not a false economy. Getting targets you know want to come, at a price you can afford and of the right quality EARLY, has some many benefits. Sometimes I think the excitement of that perfect player arriving, can make clubs loose their minds. Players should be able to integrate with the manager’s ideas, systems, and other players. They may need to get the family settled e.g children and schools and find homes. Yes, they have the money but they are still human. A player with a settled mind is bound to be able to focus and perform better, if integrated earlier. Let’s not be last minute dot come. Arsenal need a good start to the season before October and World Cup hits.
We are told planning for targets is done 6/7/8 months in advance. Shouldn’t that involve finding out whether a player wa to to come, want they are looking for in order to say yes. Feeling out clubs as to what figures (may) get a deal across the line. Why do we seemingly wait for the actual window to open to get this sort of stuff done. Isn’t this done in the 8months before. Arsenal have a lot at stake, perhaps more than others in the top 6 ( having missed the UCL for many years), I fly on wall doc being released in early August – in which we know the heartbreaking end. With the top 2 spots in the grip of Pool + City, squad cohesion and buying into the manager’s ideas/tactics is a Trump card for a team like Arsenal without Oil money or Klopp’s machine. If our Plan A is going to unbalance the ship then Plan B should be ready and thought out…Good to go. COYG
I would prefer Paqueta but the fee is too high.
Ifpaqueta come in Arsenal will be a top Four team before season kickoff
If you look at the league table we are already top of the league before season kick off😊
Declan, several sites for some reasons had Bournemouth top of the table??
AFC Bournemouth…
I thing we need 2 Midfielders,one to cover the vacancy we have at the moment and for that position the ideal solution is Paqueta and the other should be a DM.
Looks like we’re starting the new season with Xhaka as first choice at the moment. Something I was hoping was not going to happen. As much as Xhaka gives his all (and I respect that) he is just wrong for the way Arsenal need to play. If MA wants to play the Pep way, Xhaka needs to go. The thing is, I do believe Paqueta would suit a quick attacking side more than Tielemans but, I with silly prices on some players I think Tielemans would still be a worthy upgrade at a way better price. I’m glad Arsenal are not mugging themselves by paying hyped up prices to clubs who are acting like thieves!
Thieves? they are using what they have to get what they want, cash, unfortunately it’s the all and all in football this days
Arsenal are going in to the “indecision” mode of years gone by and the end of window deadline will pass with no more signings, just a bunch of talk. Need a huge midfield signing and the paralysis is showing.