Arsenal talks continue with Tielemans and Hickey as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen first team

Arsenal are in talks to sign Youri Tielemans this summer with the Leicester City midfielder keen on joining the Gunners if they qualify for the Champions League, understands.

Tielemans, 25, wants to leave the Foxes this summer and it's expected that Leicester will entertain offers for the versatile midfielder who joined the former Premier League champions in 2019.

has learned that talks have been ongoing between Tielemans' representative for the past few months, with his agent meeting technical director Edu at the club's London Colney training ground in late December.

Nuno Tavares makes Rob Holding fume as Arsenal's best summer transfer is revealed

Meanwhile, talks are expected to continue between the representatives of Bologna defender Aaron Hickey and Arsenal. Able to play at both left and right back, Hickey has won plaudits in Italy and abroad following his accomplished campaign at the club. This season he has become a mainstay in defence making 33 league appearances, scoring five goals and recording an assist in the process.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants a versatile left-sided defender to bolster his defence this season, with Kieran Tierney currently on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery and Takehiro Tomiyasu only recently back in action following his respective calf issues.

understands that Cedric Soares is happy at Emirates Stadium which makes a summer departure unlikely, while Nuno Tavares' inconsistent form has seen his performances come under scrutiny.

Bologna are said to be asking for a fee in the region of €20 million (£17m) for Hickey, whose contracts expires in the summer of 2024.

When asked if he expects another busy summer in terms of player recruitment, Arteta said: "I am expecting so, yes.