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Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan is excited at the possibility of Arsenal signing exciting Turkish prospect Kerem Akturkoglu.
Akturkoglu has enjoyed a fabulous campaign for Galatsaray, bagging 11 goals and 10 assists in 45 games across competitions. These performances and his relatively cheap £17 million price tag have seen the 23-year-old draw the attention of some of the finest teams in Europe.
Gundogan, who is of Turkish origin, is a big fan of the player and hopes Arsenal follow through in their bid to sign Akturkoglu. Speaking to Tivibu Sport (via HITC), the Germany international said:
“I’ve been following Galatasaray more in recent weeks. Kerem Akturkoglu is a footballer worthy of Europe. Like Caglar (Soyuncu, of Leicester City), I would like to see him move one step forward in Germany. And then to England. We would like to see Kerem play for the big teams of Europe.”
Galatasaray recently rejected Wolfsburg's £12 million bid for Akturkoglu. The cash-strapped Turkish club could let him go for £17 million, though.
The Gunners have enjoyed a resurgent season so far and sit within touching distance of UEFA Champions League football after a five-year absence. Their reported move for the 23-year-old winger (as per CNN Turk via HITC) in the summer could provide them with a cheap and reliable way to bolster their options up front.
They could face competition for his signature from their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, though.
The race for his signature could be decided based on who secures UEFA Champions League football next season. Spurs are fourth in the standings, ahead of the Gunners on goal difference, with a game in hand.
Atletico Madrid and Lyon are also in the fray for the player. The winger joined Galatasaray in 2020 and has made 74 appearances across competitions for them, registering an impressive 30 direct goal involvements.
Arsenal and Liverpool scouts set to watch Turkish wonderkid this weekend - Reports
Scouts from top Premier League clubs are reportedly paying close attention to 17-year-old Fenerbahce wonderkid Arda Guler. According to Fanatik (via Sport Witness), Liverpool and Arsenal are looking to secure the youngster's signature.
Representatives from the two clubs, as well as Bayern Munich, will reportedly watch Guler play against Galatasaray this Sunday (10 April). The youngster has already made 12 first-team appearances for Fernabache this season, scoring two goals and giving four assists. Scouts from the European juggernauts hope to catch him in action.
There is no information on how much Guler could cost, as his suitors are currently content with watching him develop.
