BBC and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has criticised Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans for his performances this season.

The Belgian international is believed to be a summer target for Arsenal, after reports emerged that the Gunners have already held talks with the player’s agent. However, Tielemans has struggled to emulate the form he showed for the Foxes last campaign, which culminated in him scoring a spectacular winning goal in the FA Cup. Richards says the midfielder is nowhere near his best at the moment:

“Tielemans was, in my opinion, Leicester’s best player last season. I would look at that team and say, ‘he could genuinely be world-class, or he is getting to that world-class level’, but this season he has been a shadow of the player that he is.”

Leicester’s own form has likely contributed to Tielemans’ decline but there can be no denying the fact that the 24-year-old has been poor in recent games. He did start the season well, scoring five goals in his first 12 league appearances, but things haven’t gone so smoothly since the New Year.

Whether his future is playing on his mind, it is hard to know. Tielemans’ contract at the King Power Stadium expires at the end of next season, and he may be considering his next move. A switch to the Emirates cannot be ruled out.