Arsenal battling north London rivals for £30m deal at the Emirates

Arsenal could beat arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Youri Tielemans as the Emirates Stadium target has made it clear he has ‘ambitions’ to leave Leicester City and play in the Champions League, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta may have failed to add any fresh faces to his squad during the winter window, but it appears he is eyeing reinforcements ahead of next season.

Arsenal are currently in pole position to return to the Champions League next term, with them sitting fourth in the Premier League standings.

According to the Evening Standard, maintaining that position could prove crucial in their pursuit of Tielemans as the Leicester midfielder is desperate to seal a move to a club competing in Europe’s top competition.

The report suggests the 49-cap Belgium international, who has been identified as one of the north Londoners’ top targets heading into the summer, could be lured away from the King Power Stadium by lodging a bid worth in the region of £30million.

However, Arsenal are not Tielemans’ only suitors as arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur – along with La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid – have been keeping tabs on his situation over the past year.

The 25-year-old looks destined to leave Leicester this summer as he is set to enter the final 12 months of his £120,000-per-week contract, meaning Tielemans’ current employers are running out of time to cash-in.

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Jones believes there is a strong possibility that Tielemans will be on Arsenal’s books by the time the summer window slams shut.

The transfer insider understands the central midfielder is keen to leave Leicester and is on Arteta’s list of