Newcastle United have received a boost in their bid to sign Youri Tielemans with news that Arsenal have pulled out of the race to land the midfielder.
The 25-year-old is currently a man in demand, with his contract at Leicester set to expire in the summer. He looks certain to be on the move in 2023, whether that is this month or at the end of the season.
He is a player who Newcastle want now, with the Telegraph stating that he is one of two midfielders the Magpies are keen on during the January transfer window. The other is Moises Caicedo, whose valuation will make him difficult to obtain.
Tielemans will be available for a much more modest fee compared to Caicedo, but a deal could end up being just as difficult.
However, it now appears that one of the leading candidates to secure the Belgian star’s signature is no longer interested.
Arsenal pull out of race to sign Youri Tielemans
According to Football London, Mikel Arteta’s side have cooled their interest in Tielemans.
They did try to sign him in the summer, but were reportedly put off due to his wage demands. He currently earns £120,000-a-week at Leicester, and will no doubt be looking for a significant pay rise with his contract winding down.
Football London’s report states that a move to Arsenal is now unlikely this month, despite previous reports claiming that they were keen to reignite a deal they failed to complete at the start of the season.
The Mirror reported in late October 2022 that the Gunners were in pole position to sign Tielemans in January. However, that no longer appears to be the case.
That could give Newcastle an edge if they do decide to make a move for the Foxes captain. He is a tremendous footballer, and someone who could really thrive at St James’ Park. He has regressed in recent months, but could certainly get back to his best as part of a confident Toon team that looks to be on course to achieve something special this season.
With Arsenal seemingly out of the equation, Newcastle have a glorious chance to get Tielemans this month. With less competition, it could now all be down to how much money he is going to cost, and how much money he is going to want a week.
Arsenal did lead the chase, but their interest has now been put on hold. Advantage Newcastle.
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