Arsenal pulled out of Youri Tielemans deadline-day transfer because they ‘lost belief’ in out-of-contract Leicester star
ARSENAL pulled out of the transfer race for Youri Tielemans over doubts that he would not be the right fit for the team, according to reports.
The Gunners were heavily linked with a swoop for the Leicester midfielder throughout the summer transfer window, but a deal never materialised.
Instead, Mikel Arteta looked to alternative midfield targets just hours before the transfer deadline.
Club chiefs attempted to pursue a deal for Palmeiras midfielder Danilo, but their £20million bid was rejected with the Brazilian club unwilling to sell.
Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz then became the priority target, however the Gunners had three offers turned down before the 11pm curfew last Thursday.
But, Arsenal's third and final offer of £23m plus add-ons - which was rejected with less than one hour remaining in the window - would have been enough to sign original target Tielemans had they tabled a bid for him.
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That is according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, who suggested that Arteta was "not interested enough" in signing the Leicester man.
He told Give Me Sport: "The offer of around £23m for Douglas Luiz would have been enough to land Tielemans – so I think we can take from this that Arsenal lost belief that he was the right fit for their team.
"They were interested but not interested enough."
Tielemans has less than one year remaining on his Leicester contract, so he will be available to leave in a free transfer next summer.
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Leicester were prepared to slash their £38m asking price to just £20m before deadline day, but they did not receive any offers despite reported interest from Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal.
The Foxes only made one outfield signing during the transfer window in £15m Wout Faes from Reims.
Brendan Rodgers' side have struggled so far this season - they currently sit bottom of the Premier League table with just one point.