Mikel Arteta must avoid unnecessary £30m transfer gamble and solve Arsenal's real issue

After a five-year absence from the Champions League, Arsenal are finally on the cusp of booking their return to Europe's elite tournament.

Mikel Arteta's side can even seal the deal in style by clinching a top-four finish at the expense of their bitter rivals, Tottenham, by defeating them in Thursday's crunch north London derby. But even if the Gunners fail to bag the three-point haul they need to finish the job, they are still in pole position to edge out their neighbours.

The Gunners are currently reaping the rewards of their successful work in last summer's transfer window, and the early indications are that Arteta will be given the green light to oversee a similar spending spree in the coming months – and it hasn't taken long for potential transfer targets to be linked to the club.

According to HBVL, via SportWitness, Leicester midfield star Youri Tielemans has emerged as a key summer target for Arsenal, who are competing with Manchester United for the Belgian playmaker's signature. The 25-year-old is due to be a free agent next summer – but the Foxes will demand a sum of £30million to allow the midfield maestro to depart this summer.

While Tielemans possess undoubted quality, pursuing a deal for the Leicester ace should be the last thing on Arteta's mind right now. Arsenal have more than enough creative stars right now, with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka all enjoying fine seasons.

Although Tielemans could be deployed in a deeper role, there are more pressing matters for the club to attend to. There may not be a shortage of creativity at the Emirates, but there is a dearth of attackers available to try and convert the chances that are being churned out on a weekly basis.

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Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing Youri Tielemans ( Image: PA)

Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are the only two senior strikers at the club and both are due to be free agents in the summer. While Nketiah has impressed in recent weeks, notching four goals in as many games to help spearhead the final lap of the Gunners' top-four drive, it would be a huge risk for Arsenal to head into Europe next season with the 22-year-old as their main man – and that's if he even decides to stay.

Realistically Arsenal need to snap up two strikers in the summer – and goalscorers do not tend to come cheap. Gabriel Jesus – one of the Gunners' top summer targets – is rated at £40m by Manchester City, while other names who have been linked with the Londoners in recent months have been tipped to cost a similar sum.

Although the club have backed Arteta in the past, it's common knowledge that the Gunners lack the financial muscle to compete with the likes of City. If they are going to strengthen their squad and build on returning to the Champions League, then Arteta will have to cut his cloth accordingly.

The Spaniard's sensible transfer business has helped bring the club back from the brink. Arteta knows Arsenal don't have cash to burn – and the big money fee that Tielemans would command would be better spent elsewhere.