‘Youri Telemans would be ideal’ – Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn says Leicester midfielder would be perfect transfer
NIGEL WINTERBURN has urged Arsenal to sign Leicester star Youri Tielemans as the club legend stated a new midfielder should be a priority.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has already declared he is pushing for more transfers as he continues his squad overhaul.
Five players have been brought to the Emirates with Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos and Matt Turner all snapped up this summer.
And there have been strong rumours that Tielemans could be next, with the 25-year-old having just a year left on his deal at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester are reportedly expecting Arsenal to make a move for the Belgium international, but the North London outfit are yet to turn their interest into a formal approach.
It was claimed in June how Arsenal had already agreed personal terms with the player.
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And Winterburn, who won three league titles with Arsenal between 1987-2000, thinks Tielemans would be a perfect fit due to his Premier League experience.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport on behalf of FreeSuperTips, the 58-year-old was asked who would his preferred signing be.
To which the two-time FA Cup winner said: “It’s a tough one, but I do think we still need a midfield player so somebody like a Tielemans would be ideal.
“He’s had Premier League experience so he would fit into the sort of players Arsenal are looking at.
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“I just think with that transfer that it’s been mentioned for so long now that I’m not sure that it’s going to happen.
“But they need that sort of player in the midfield, you look at Arsenal’s activity over the past two seasons, there’s a lot of young talent coming in.
“There are also players coming in with Premier League experience as well, so I would think that’s the strategy Arsenal are going with.
“You’re never quite sure what’s fully going on at your club as a fan, but you’d think somebody along those lines would come in with Premier League experience.
“They’ll need to have the energy to play in this Arsenal side because I think Arsenal will look to play a pressing game this season, particularly at the start of games.
“Somebody like Tielemans will be good but trying to predict what Arteta and Edu are going to do can be difficult.
“It could be someone younger who we’ve not heard about and developing for the future which is what did last season and this season.
“But if they make another signing, I’m hoping it’s the right one and that they can come straight into this team.”
Winterburn was also full of praise for Arsenal’s new-look attack, as well as French centre-back William Saliba after an impressive pre-season following his loan at Marseille.
He remarked: “If you look at Saliba, he’s done very well defensively and it will be a step up for him in the Premier League, but he hasn’t done anything wrong.
“He looks comfortable, he looks good on the ball, and he has pace.
“Positioning wise it looks good, so let’s take it forward into the Premier League and see what happens there.
“With Jesus and Zinchenko I fit they’ll just slot right in, but what’s impressed me most is the link up play between Jesus, [Martin] Odegaard, [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli.
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“That’s alongside the work rate and the pressing from the front, it’s high energy and if they can keep those players fit and in good form then it looks exciting.
“Arsenal certainly look like they have an exciting attacking line up for the season.”