Arsenal are still the favourites to sign soon-to-be free agent Youri Tielemans this summer, according to a report.
The Gunners were heavily linked with the Leicester City man at the end of last season, but the window closed with Tielemans still on the books at the King Power Stadium.
However, Tielemans has now entered the final six months of his contract with the Foxes, who stand to lose him for nothing this summer if he does not sign an extension.
The Belgium international is currently free to discuss pre-contract terms with foreign clubs, and he was also tipped to sign to Arsenal in January before the Gunners moved for Jorginho on deadline day.
Christian Eriksen's injury also led to links with a late January move to Manchester United for Tielemans, but the Red Devils opted to sign Bayern Munich's Marcel Sabitzer on loan instead.
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With Leicester scrapping in the bottom half of the Premier League table this season, Tielemans is not expected to sign an extension, and he is set to be one of the most in-demand free agents on the market this summer.
According to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs - via TEAMTalk - Arsenal are still confident of winning the race for the 25-year-old's signature, with the midfielder pining for a move to Arsenal last year before the Gunners decided against it.
"Come the summer, if Tielemans is available on a free transfer, there'll be a variety of clubs looking at him," Jacobs explained.
"Arsenal will still be there for sure and we know that Tielemans very much wanted that move a year ago and was hopeful that something might come off throughout the summer, but Arsenal moved in a different direction."
Tielemans has produced 28 goals and 25 assists from 185 games in a Leicester shirt since first arriving on loan from Monaco in January 2019, including four goals and one assist from 27 outings this season.
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Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has affirmed that the Foxes will do everything in their power to convince Tielemans to sign a new deal, telling reporters last month: "It has gone on for a while, but it's all based around the player, ultimately.
"His commitment is no less now to what it was when I first came in - if not even more. He's loved his time here and is still loving his time here.
"I respect that he's in his last year, of course I want to tie him down. He's been a brilliant player for this club and is still at a great age. It's something that has to be right for all parties.
"Until I'm told he's not here, we work very well together. He's a coach's dream, with his professionalism and view of the game. Nothing changes for me in that aspect, we just continue to hopefully find a resolution to it and have him sign here. I think it's one where we want to do everything we can to convince him to stay."
Arsenal are only working with three fit central midfielders for the remainder of the season in Jorginho, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey following Mohamed Elneny's serious knee injury and subsequent surgery.
Elneny could leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, but Arsenal - who will also pursue summer moves for Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo - are expected to activate his one-year extension to keep him on the books until 2024.
Ben Knapton
