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Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans looks set to pick Arsenal over Manchester United, according to respected journalist Ben Jacobs. The Gunners could win the race for the highly-rated midfielder in the coming weeks as Mikel Arteta looks to finish in the top four next season.
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs revealed that the Belgian midfielder had his eyes set on a move to North London. The journalist said:
“He’s fully sold on a move to Arsenal, so if Manchester United were to bid for Tielemans, they will only get him if Arsenal decide that’s fine, go ahead and take the player. It’s not really a head-to-head.
“I think that Manchester United’s potential interest in Tielemans, which is still to be stood up, could just catalyse Arsenal to make another bid or may have Arsenal say ‘I’m sorry, but we’re not interested. Go ahead and join Manchester United if you want’.
“But I don’t think that Manchester United can beat Arsenal to Tielemans. It’s not a case of decide between the two.”
The Gunners have not yet tabled a bid for the Belgian as they were occupied with landing other priority targets. Tielemans was expected to join the club this summer after the club held talks with the player's representatives in January. However, the Gunners' failure to qualify for the Champions League stalled matters.
This delay handed the Red Devils an avenue to enter the race for the Belgian, with new manager Erik ten Hag an admirer of the player. However, as per Jacobs, the player only seems to want to move to north London. The Red Devils will rather be hoping their approach for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong will be fruitful as they look to recruit more players this summer.
Arsenal and Manchester United get in touch with Paulo Dybala's agent - Reports
Both sides are in the market for a number of key players, and Tielemans isn't the only player they're reportedly set to battle for. With Paulo Dybala's contract at Juventus finishing on 30 June, the Gunners and the Red Devils have both made the attacker a transfer target.
According to a report from FC Inter News, the Argentina international could be headed to Inter Milan this summer, but both parties are yet to agree on a deal. While negotiations remain ongoing between the star's representatives and Inter, both English clubs have reached out to his agent to understand the situation.
Dybala remains an excellent option, even though recent seasons in Turin saw the 28-year-old stall in front of goal. Fourteen goals in his last 49 Serie A appearances is certainly a subpar output for the talented attacker, who managed 19 goals in 34 league games in his first season as a Juventino.
