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Arsenal are pushing to sign Leicester City star Youri Tielemans and there is confidence growing he'll join them, according to reports.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners are currently preparing for this summer window behind-the-scenes as Mikel Arteta's side continue their fight for a Premier League title on the field.

Arsenal are still in contention to win their first domestic crown in nearly 20 years, but if they cannot get it done, strengthening in key areas and reinforcing their ranks will be an all-important task for next campaign.

The north Londoners reportedly have a few targets on their agenda, most notably for the central midfield area, with Brighton star Moises Caicedo and West Ham's Declan Rice both in Arteta's thinking for 2023/2024.

Meanwhile, there have been suggestions that South American prodigy Vitor Roque and Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic are on Arsenal's agenda as well.

Links to Tielemans have also been sporadic over the last few months, but reporter Rudy Galetti, writing for Tribal Football, has an update on the matter.

According to his information, Arsenal are 'pushing' to sign the 25-year-old on a free deal and are attempting to convince the Belgian to join them.

As well as this, there is apparently a growing confidence from Arsenal's side that they can do just that, but they aren't the only club chasing him.

Tielemans is in demand across half of Europe, with Napoli, Roma, Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund also hot on his trail and could well make moves of their own.

What could Tielemans bring to Arsenal?

Signing him on a free deal could prove a shrewd move by Arsenal if they wish to add more creativity in the final third with Tielemans proving he can cut it in the top flight.

Called a 'magnificent' player by members of the media like journalist Robert Lusetich, former Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers back in 2021, stating:

"There will obviously be talks with the club in terms of his contract but I continue to work with him and help him improve as a player. That’s my only focus.

‘He is an outstanding player, one of Europe’s top midfielders. He is integral to our game and a joy to work with — a super professional. A young player with that focus is great to see."

As the Foxes seem set to lose Tielemans for nothing, their major loss could be Arsenal's undoubted gain.

Alex McLeish must surely go down as a legend amongst the Glasgow Rangers supporters for his four-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the Ibrox side.

He led the team to seven major trophies during that time, all while fighting constant financial restraints which limited his spending severely, meaning he had to largely rely on free transfers and a variety of loan moves.

The likes of Dado Prso, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Nacho Novo all arrived for either nothing or small transfer fees, and contributed towards McLeish’s second title triumph in 2004/05 as they pipped Celtic on the final day of the season in dramatic circumstances.

Along with these aforementioned signings, he also made one of his biggest blunders in the transfer market by shelling out £1.1m on Serbian midfielder Dragan Mladenovic, which proved to be a disaster.

How did Dragan Mladenovic perform at Rangers?

The player arrived from Red Star Belgrade having clearly impressed McLeish to fork out that sum during a time when money was tight, and Mladenovic had also proved his credentials on the international stage, winning seven caps for his country (he would win 17 overall), and it looked as though he could improve the midfield.

Despite the hype and early promise upon his arrival, the Serb went on to make just nine appearances for the Light Blues, failing to record any telling contributions in front of goal.

He moved to Real Sociedad on loan in January 2005, making 12 La Liga appearances for the club in a bid to try and force his way into the Rangers side ahead of the 2005/06 campaign, but it clearly wasn’t enough.

Mladenovic eventually forced a move back to Red Star before jumping ship to join South Korean side Incheon United, where he enjoyed much more game-time compared to his spell in Europe.

Overall, his nine Rangers appearances cost the club over £120k per match – and this was money the club could not afford to throw away.

It was an unmitigated disaster of a signing and one McLeish could look back on and say it was potentially up there as one of his worst while in charge of the Glasgow side.

Mladenovic is currently back in his homeland occupying the role of director of Red Star’s youth academy, and despite injuries not helping his cause, he will perhaps be largely forgettable when it comes to players of that era, as well as a colossal waste of money.

Revised bids to buy Manchester United, one of which was from Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, look set to fall short of the Glazers’ valuation.

What’s the latest on the Old Trafford takeover?

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe appear to be the main contenders when it comes to a takeover, with both parties making second bids after a mix-up last week. Respective teams of the pair asked for an extension after missing the deadline on Wednesday, with Ratcliffe’s fresh proposal going in 24 hours later on Thursday and news of Jassim’s second offer emerging on Saturday morning.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth believes that any sale will be for a world-record fee, and an update has emerged on those second offers. ESPN reporter Rob Dawson shared news he’s heard out of Old Trafford in the last 24 hours regarding a takeover. He stated that revised bids ‘will fall short of the Glazer family's valuation, although there is still hope a buyout can happen’.

Dawson added that bids ‘have been increased from around £4.5bn but remain below the asking price of around £6bn', so the improved bids comfortably surpass the record £3.7bn Denver Broncos takeover in the NFL. He says there is 'hope that the Glazers might still accept a compromise fee to allow a takeover at Old Trafford.’ Red Devils staff have been told to expect 'clarity' when it comes to the ownership situation by the end of the season.

What would a Qatari takeover mean?

It looks as if the proposals on the table from the Qatari investors and Ratcliffe have already eclipsed the current world record for a sports team which stands at a $4.65bn sale for the Denver Broncos last year.

Jassim is thought to be confident of winning the race to take control at Old Trafford, and should he do just that, the club could be in for a busy few months in the transfer market. Earlier this year, the Qatari group wanted 'things done quickly' so they could help Erik ten Hag when it comes to new signings, with reports suggesting last week that Jassim is a huge fan of Jude Bellingham and is looking at a stunning move.

Both Jassim and Ratcliffe will now have to remain patient and await what the Glazers have to say to their proposals, but even though the offers could be rejected, it seems as if a complete takeover in 2023 could still be on the cards, making this a situation to keep an eye on alongside maters on the pitch.

talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor says that the reported £70m price tag for Liverpool transfer target Alexis Mac Allister is ‘ridiculous’.

The Lowdown: Liverpool interest

As per Football Insider, Liverpool have registered their interest in signing Mac Allister this summer, with ‘sources’ close to the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder claiming that he is ‘ready to go’ to a ‘bigger’ club.

However, Brighton do not want to sell the FIFA World Cup winner for less than their £70m asking price.

The Latest: ‘Ridiculous’

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor claims that the £70m asking price for Mac Allister is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘silly’, and in spite of how good of a player that he is, he is not worth that much:

“I don’t think Mac Allister is worth £70million.

“To me, he’s a £30-40million player. I think these numbers are getting silly now.

“Anyone who has a good season is instantly a £70-100million player.

“I think it’s ridiculous.

“Yes, he’s had a good season with Brighton and he’s won the World Cup with Argentina.

“But I feel that £70million is far too expensive. Liverpool are in need of midfielders, though, and that could price them out of some transfers.”

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The Verdict: Have to pay a premium…

Unfortunately with the way that transfer fees are becoming more inflated by the year, with the Premier League recording a record spend in the January transfer window, clubs have to pay a premium if they want to sign quality players like Mac Allister.

Brighton are also renowned for getting top fees for selling players, and so would be tough negotiators in terms of barging from their asking price.

Thus, Liverpool may just to have to bite the bullet with this one, with their need for new midfielders apparent.

After scoring and assisting in the 4-0 thumping of West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, Mac Allister now has eight goals and one assist in total over all competitions so far this season, and at 24 years of age, would offer fresh legs and an ideal alternative to the ageing James Milner and Jordan Henderson.

There is a ‘very real possibility’ of Leeds United’s proposed takeover by 49ers Enterprises happening this summer, journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed.

The Lowdown: 49ers rumours ongoing

For some time now, rumours have suggested that the 49ers will gain a majority share in the Whites, leading to them becoming the club’s new owners.

Back in January 2021, they increased their share to 30%, strengthening their grip in the process, and it has since grown to 44% as time has passed.

Now, a new update further suggests that it won’t be long until the 49ers are Leeds’ official new owners.

The Latest: Summer takeover on the cards

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that this summer could see the takeover go through, in what would be a major development:

“49ers Enterprises are fully committed to Leeds and to a full takeover. It’s really just a case of when.

“Sources have always indicated that staying up or going down won’t necessarily alter the timescale, so there is still a very real possibility that will get done over the summer.

“But there are just so many moving parts at the moment that we’re going to have to wait and see how the season plays out before the picture becomes clearer.”

The Verdict: Exciting period at Leeds

The hope is that this situation can go through as quickly and as seamlessly as possible, allowing Leeds to kick on as a club and ensure that it doesn’t act as a distraction on the pitch.

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Avoiding relegation from the Premier League is absolutely imperative – they hovered around the drop zone for some time now – and if the Whites manage that and get new owners in during the summer, the future could look extremely bright.

Perhaps the biggest positive regarding the takeover would be Leeds’ increased financial clout, allowing more funds to be available for signings, as well as potentially redeveloping Elland Road.

Glasgow Rangers continued their fine start under Michael Beale in midweek, securing a routine 3-0 victory with many claiming the performance to be the best under his leadership so far.

With nine wins from ten matches since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in November, Beale has rejuvenated Rangers and given them an injection of confidence. However, reeling in their Glasgow arch-rivals – who are nine points ahead at the summit of the Premiership table – could prove a bridge too far, but the two domestic cups will certainly be eyed.

With matches coming thick and fast over the next few months, squad rotation will be key, and Beale may well switch up his starting XI ahead of the match against Ross County this afternoon, as he must fully unleash one of his January signings…

Todd Cantwell was one of two additions to the squad during the January transfer window, alongside Nicolas Raskin, and the former Norwich midfielder has already made a solid impression at Rangers. The 24-year-old – who was dubbed “exciting to watch” by journalist David Freezer – started against St Johnstone at Ibrox last weekend in the Light Blue’s straightforward 2-0 victory.

As per Sofascore, he enjoyed a solid if unspectacular debut, taking 55 touches while achieving an 88% pass success rate during his 63 minutes on the pitch, and it was pleasing to see a new midfielder in the team.

Against Hearts in midweek, he came off the bench with just 14 minutes left and left a positive imprint on the team which should convince Beale to unleash him from the start against Ross County today.

The Englishman achieved a Sofascore rating of 7/10 for his cameo against the Jam Tarts while taking 25 touches, completing 90% of his passes, winning 100% of his duels and making one key pass, giving Rangers that add a bit of spark in the final quarter of the match.

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell was full of praise for Cantwell afterwards as he took to Twitter to discuss his performance, saying: “Cantwell has been superb since he came on. Nearly every time he has got on the ball he has dribble past someone or produced a lovely pass.”

Rangers are riding on a wave of confidence at the moment, and everyone seems to be buying into Beale’s philosophy.

Cantwell appears to have settled in at Ibrox with ease, and his impressive cameo against Hearts may just have earned him a start this afternoon.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Jude Bellingham is becoming increasingly difficult and they may only be able to compete for his signature if new investors arrive, according to a report from Germany.

The Lowdown: Klopp eyeing midfielders

Liverpool have been linked with a number of midfielders during the January window, including the likes of Matheus Nunes and Declan Rice, with Jurgen Klopp looking to sign long-term replacements for the likes of Jordan Henderson and James Milner.

Bellingham is believed to be Klopp’s ‘top priority’, however Borussia Dortmund are set to demand around £130m for the midfielder if he does not commit to a new deal, which would make him the most expensive Premier League signing of all time.

The Latest: Deal becoming difficult…

According to a report from SportBILD (via Sport Witness), a move for the 19-year-old is becoming increasingly difficult for Liverpool to plan this summer, with the huge transfer fee considered a major stumbling block.

It is detailed that the only way the Reds will be able to raise the revenue needed is if the club gets an investor promptly, or if new owners come in.

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The Verdict: Blow for Liverpool

It will be very disappointing for Liverpool fans that if they are unable able to compete for the central midfielder’s signature without new investment, as he is a generational talent, with a wide range of different abilities.

Hailed as ‘fabulous’ by Graeme Souness (via Manchester Evening News), the starlet specialises in driving the ball forward, completing an average of 1.7 dribbles per 90 in the past year, with this on show during the World Cup.

The youngster made a fantastic galloping run in the build-up to Harry Kane’s goal against Senegal, while he also displayed his creative talents in the round of 16 by bagging an assist.

Given his age, Bellingham has time on his side to develop into one of the best midfielders in the world, and it would be a huge blow for Liverpool if they were to miss out to a rival club.

Journalist Craig Hope thinks that Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe should drop Callum Wilson from the starting XI.

The Verdict: Wilson struggling for goals

The Magpies forward has six goals and three assists so far in the Premier League, but he’s hit a bit of a dry spell in recent times.

Wilson hasn’t scored in Newcastle’s last seven league matches, last netting against Aston Villa where he bagged a brace in a 4-0 victory at St James’ Park back in October.

The Magpies’ other option up front is Alexander Isak, who has played five league matches this season and hit the back of the net three times. While he netted the winner against Fulham earlier this month, he hasn’t started in the Premier League since September.

The Latest: Wilson is ‘struggling’

Following Newcastle’s 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Southampton, Hope spoke on his YouTube channel about Wilson and why he thinks the striker should be dropped.

He stated: “I think I’m prepared to commit to it now – I think he is struggling at the moment and I would take him out of the team.

“What do you do – do you leave him in the team to build fitness or do you take him out to give him a rest?

“I don’t quite know the answer, and that’s why Eddie Howe’s manager and it’s one he’s got to work out.”

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The Verdict: Isak’s time to shine

We believe that Wilson is likely exhausted due to a number of factors, including injuries and illnesses, constant game time and his call-up to the England squad this past winter.

He’s come under criticism for his recent performances, with pundit Tam McManus stating that he ‘looks a bit off it’ and that it’s ‘a matter of time’ before Isak is picked ahead of him when speaking to Football Insider.

Given Isak was brought in for a club-record fee in the summer, it is perhaps not a surprise that he would eventually usurp Wilson in the starting XI. While Wilson’s goal record still tops the Swede’s, Isak certainly has youth on his side, and you would imagine that Howe and PIF would rather see their heavy outlay on the striker pay off than Wilson flourish if given the choice, regardless of his form.

It’s Isak’s time to get the nod from Howe in our opinion as he can perhaps offer the kind of dynamism in the forward position that he displayed in creating the winning goal against the Saints on a consistent basis on Tyneside.

Liverpool could strengthen their squad even further over the January transfer window after a difficult campaign so far for the Reds and now a new potential transfer target has been revealed.

What’s the latest?

According to Turkish news outlet A Spor, Liverpool are interested in signing Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey.

As per the report, it would take €20m (£18m) to secure the player’s signature with Crystal Palace named as another Premier League suitor for Boey.

Imagine him & Salah

Jurgen Klopp will be keen to get his team back to their best as soon as possible and making new additions this month as well as in the summer transfer window will be crucial in their attempts to get Liverpool back in a position to compete comfortably for trophies.

Liverpool are sixth in the Premier League table and currently 16 points adrift from league leaders Arsenal after suffering their latest defeat in the top flight against Brentford earlier this week.

Indeed, the focus has been on the centre of the pitch which has become a matter of urgency at Anfield, however, adding depth to key positions all over the pitch would be invaluable to Klopp and the squad as they try to salvage their season.

As a result, the signing of Boey would give Liverpool the opportunity to bring in a right-back who can ensure quality is maintained when Trent Alexander-Arnold is unavailable or due a rest, something similar to what they already have in place with Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.

Over 14 league appearances, the talented ace – who was dubbed an “intriguing” prospect by Zach Lowry – has registered two assists and created four big chances, proving himself to be an attack-minded full-back.

Averaging 1.6 interceptions, 3.1 tackles and 1.9 clearances per game also proves that he is effective in a defensive area as well.

Furthermore, last season the 22-year-old Frenchman attempted more tackles than 99% of other full-backs and sat in the top 20% for winning tackles, which is a testament to his work ethic and determination to win back possession of the ball.

This hard-working attitude on the right flank could be hugely beneficial to Mohammed Salah if he signs for Liverpool in 2023, as his ability to win the ball and deliver progressive and key passes could elevate the Egyptian winger’s threat going forward.

Salah is already an incredibly dominant asset next to Alexander-Arnold, with the two combining directly with each other for precisely 11 goals – the sixth-highest rate in the winger’s career – so the thought of another dynamic right-back playing with him is a tasty proposition.

With that being said, if Liverpool could sign Boey it would be a great piece of business for the Reds and would certainly give Klopp some depth in the full-back areas when juggling his squad across competitions.

Tottenham have identified England international Jordan Pickford as their ‘main objective’ to replace goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs think to future…

Recent reports have suggested that Spurs boss Antonio Conte and sporting director Fabio Paratici are thinking of Lloris’ successor as the Frenchman enters his twilight years.

The World Cup finalist, now 35-years-old, could be nearing the end of what has been a stellar ten-year stay in the Premier League after his 2012 move from Lyon.

Conte and Paratici have reportedly identified their top target to succeed Lloris between the sticks, and it’s apparently Everton’s number one.

The Latest: Pickford ‘main objective’ for Spurs…

According to Italian sources, the former Sunderland shot-stopper has climbed to the top of Spurs’ transfer wish list with the club ‘already looking beyond’ Lloris.

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TUTTOmercatoWEB claim the saga could ‘take shape’ next season and Pickford is now the ‘main objective’ for Paratici and co.

The Verdict: Right man…

Pickford’s performances for the Three Lions in Qatar highlight just how dependable he can be and we believe the homegrown ace is a perfect target for Tottenham.

Called a ‘real leader’ by members of the media, he could take up Lloris’ role in that regard, not to mention his ‘world class’ distribution could be a real asset.

Valued at around £25 million by Transfermarkt, Pickford is still just 28-years-old and could serve Spurs for a long while after he is potentially signed.