Arsenal are looking to strengthen Mikel Arteta's midfield options in the January transfer window. The Gunners had three bids rejected for Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz on summer deadline day but will look to add a new central midfielder to the squad in the new year.
football.london understands Arsenal have already agreed personal terms with Youri Tielemans, but are yet to to make a formal approach for the Leicester City star. It's understood that should a rival club make a move for Tielemans then the Gunners could look to accelerate their interest and secure a deal, but they may prefer to wait until the end of the season to sign him on a free transfer when his contract at the King Power Stadium expires.
Granit Xhaka's form this season has seen him turnaround his career at the Emirates Stadium and become a key player for Mikel Arteta. Injuries continue to threaten the north Londoners' success this season with Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard both having missed a number of games this term, whilst the age of the midfield is also a concern considering the demands Arteta places on his players.
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Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has urged sporting director Edu to help solve Arteta's midfield problem and sign Brighton stars Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo to reinforce his squad. Speaking to MegaCasino, Petit said: "If we’re talking about midfielders for Arsenal, I know the links are there with Tielemans at Leicester, who I think is a good player but I’m not sure he is what Arsenal need.
"I’m a big fan of two players from Brighton: Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo. Mac Allister, I said this last season before he won the World Cup, he is a guy that does everything in the midfield. He sets the tempo, carries the ball. Technically, he is very good. He scores goals.
"The guy that sits next to him at Brighton, Caicedo, he is excellent. If Arsenal could take both of those players, two guys who know each other, they would fit perfectly at the club. They would do everything that Arteta wants in midfield. Both of them are young and could form a partnership for years."
Mac Allister was a crucial player in helping Argentina win the World Cup in Qatar whilst Caicedo has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Liverpool. Petit continued: "Mac Allister has just won the World Cup. He won the Copa America last year.
"In terms of his experience and maturity, he played almost every single game at the World Cup and he played really well. He is at Brighton! What are Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City doing? Come on! He plays brilliant football."
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