The two players Arsenal are looking at before the end of the transfer window

Ben Jacobs

• Updated: 10 Aug 2022 14:38 CDT
• 4 min read

Arsenal are not quite done yet in the transfer market, with a number of targets still being considered before the summer window slams shut.

The Gunners have swooped to sign Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City this summer, as well as raiding Porto for Fabio Vieira.

Youri Tielemans is one man who has been linked with the Emirates Stadium for a long time, but CBS journalist Ben Jacobs does not expect to see rapid movement on a deal for the Leicester City star - unless Arsenal are pushed into it by one of their rivals.

Jonathan David and Lucas Paqueta are also being closely followed from north London, but the overall watchword appears to be caution as the Gunners consider their next moves carefully.

Tielemans' situation

Tielemans hasn't moved yet, Arsenal want outgoings and then they'll assess the situation, they've got lots of options in that midfield or creative footballers position, Tielemans remains one of them, it's possible that the deal is not fully dead.

But Arsenal haven't placed a formal offer and I think that the next week or two, before we get to the final week of the window is going to be very telling, because that's when we'll see an Arsenal clearout and they may have both the funds and the squad space to strengthen.

They want to boost their midfield for sure, even though Vieira's there and Zinchenko can play midfield, they want to boost the midfield and Tielemans is a player they've admired since January.

So he's not to be discounted to Arsenal but they may face competition and that may force their hand to decide earlier than they want to over the next three weeks whether they are going to bid for Tielemans.

Even though Arsenal know that Tielemans wants them, if they bid they're confident of getting him, they won't necessarily if other clubs bid have the narrative and the situation in their control. Right now as long as nobody else bids Arsenal can just bide their time and look at lots of options, Tielemans is one of them.

It's going to be really interesting, there are three or four Premier League clubs right now that are looking at Youri Tielemans, Manchester United as a De Jong back-up, West Ham are coming into the conversation to some extent, Newcastle have made some enquiries and there's even some interest from abroad as well.

Other options for the Gunners

Jonathan David is a really good player and has been excellent at club level and also for Canada.

I don't think Arsenal have pushed for David at this point but could be one to watch between now and when the window shuts, I'm surprised that he hasn't already gone to a club because in January he was a red-hot property.

That might be something to keep an eye on but there's not too much I'm aware of between Arsenal and David at this point, but we do know that Arsenal are looking to strengthen in that attack-minded area, but David is more of a traditional goalscorer whereas I think that Arsenal's priority is in a midfield or wide creative player.

They might be inclined to go for a winger or No. 10 player first, but David is a very good player.

Moussa Diaby (above) is one to watch, not because Arsenal have anything advanced but I said right at the beginning of the window that he was a player who was on their radar, and that remains the case.

Diaby has said he's staying at Leverkusen, Leverkusen state that they don't wish to sell, and if they are to be tempted it would be a minimum price of £55 million. There is just a feeling that Arsenal might try their luck again, they haven't yet, nothing advanced and he's one of many but very much on their radar and has been a name on their shortlist for much of the summer.

The other one is [Lucas] Paqueta, who Arsenal have always been interested in, so have Newcastle, no movement on that Edu made it clear that they hadn't made an offer to Lyon, but he is a great player, hugely admired by Mikel Arteta, and would be available for a minimum price of €64m,

Lyon have asked for 80 in the past when Newcastle first enquired in January so that's going to be a tough negotiation. The player does quite like the Premier League and would love a move but Lyon are not so sure.