Mikel Arteta is readying a £21.2m bid to make Europe’s ‘rising star’ his first Arsenal signing this summer, according to a recent report.
The Gunners fell just short of the Premier League title, with that accolade going to Manchester City for the fourth year in a row – a new record in English football.
Whilst that was bitterly disappointing for Arteta and his players, it felt different to the previous season when they completely fell away toward the end.
This time, Arsenal showed grit and a strong mentality to take it to the wire and there is a real sense that they’re close.
That said, they’ll need to strengthen in the summer and they are preparing a bid for Europe’s ‘rising star’.
Arsenal ready £21.2m bid for Ferdi Kadioglu
Arsenal are readying a £21.2m bid for Fenerbahce’s left-back Ferdi Kadioglu after seeing their first proposal rejected, according to Sabah Sport.
The Gunners had a bid thought to be in the region of £17m rejected but have now returned to the table with a fresh offer.
Though, they are not alone, as Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have also made an official bid to sign the versatile Turkey international.
The right-footed defender can operate on both flanks and even as a central midfielder, which is perhaps what has sparked Arteta’s interest.
Ferdi Kadioglu statistics
It’s hardly surprising that a number of clubs are looking at Kadioglu ahead of the summer transfer window when you take a look at his impressive Fbref statistics.
The 24-year-old ranks in the top one per cent for progressive passes and progressive carries compared to his positional peers across Europe.
Further, Kadioglu sits in the top three per cent for tackles, evidencing how tenacious he is defensively, too.
It seems he’d be a perfect fit for Arteta’s philosophy and system.