Youri Tielemans’ agent is reportedly in talks with the Gunners. Leicester’s Belgium midfielder would represent an upgrade on many of the names suggested for filling one of Mikel Arteta’s problem positions. And this month would be the Foxes’ last month to cash in as Tielemans is out of contract at the end of the season. But Liverpool too have been linked with the ex-Monaco ace, 24. Meanwhile, Arsenal and West Ham have been monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt left-winger Filip Kostic. The 24-year-old central midfielder has been one of the best midfielders in the English Premier League but has only 18 months remaining on his contract. Leicester City will be looking to extend his contract in the coming weeks but the player’s stance to sign a new deal or not will depend on how they finish this season.
Aiming to do business quickly this January with Mikel Arteta currently dealing with a threadbare midfield, their pursuit has taken them to Turin where a loan deal is edging ever closer to being finalised for Arthur Melo. The Brazilian would join until the end of the season to cover for the Gunners’ current deficiencies – and could even spark a January exit for Mohamed Elneny who is wanted in Turkey. But the Brazil international will be allowed to leave only if his club can find a replacement. Arthur is understood to be open to joining Arsenal and talks are continuing over the 25-year-old, who moved to Juventus from Barcelona in June 2020 for an initial €72m. The Premier League club are ready to cover his full salary. Arthur has more often been a substitute than a starter since returning from injury in October. He came on during Juventus’s Supercoppa Italiana defeat by Internazionale on Wednesday night.
Fiorentina are demanding the majority of their €75m asking price – just above £60m – for Dusan Vlahovic up front, potentially prohibiting a move to the Premier League this January. The Serbian international, who has scored 16 goals in 20 games in Serie A already this season, is one of the most sought-after players in Europe. Reports ass that Arsenal are willing to meet Fiorentina’s transfer valuation – as long as they agree on the structure of the deal – as they attempt to sign the player this month. The Gunners want to pay the club record transfer fee over four years and can afford the Serbian striker without selling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Fiorentina’s ‘reluctancy’ to agree to this is doing Arsenal no favours. The report adds that a release clause in Vlahovic’s contract will become active in the summer, so the player will likely have more options then. Arsenal remain confident they can “put the necessary package together” and strike a deal in the January window.