Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles were reportedly offered to Leicester City by Arsenal in their approach for James Maddison.
With Mikel Arteta seeking alternative playmaking options to Martin Odegaard and Houssem Aouar, Maddison is understood to be the Gunners' number one creative target for the summer window,
However, Leicester's £70m price tag is presenting a stumbling block, which the Gunners supposedly hoped to work around by proposing a player-plus-cash deal with the Foxes.
According to Football Insider, Nelson and Maitland-Niles were the two players included in Arsenal's offer, but the approach was swiftly knocked back by Leicester as they hold out for a straight cash sum.
Maitland-Niles was shipped out on loan to West Bromwich Albion last season and has affirmed that he is prepared to leave Arsenal should he not receive assurances over his game time.
Nelson, meanwhile, featured just nine times for Arsenal's first team in the 2020-21 campaign and is thought to be wanted by Crystal Palace, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Maddison's deal at Leicester is not due to expire until 2024, and he registered 11 goals and 10 assists from 42 games in all competitions last season.
Ben Knapton
