A football agent has now revealed that Arsenal are monitoring his client – who has been compared to Sergio Aguero.
The Gunners understandably want to keep their transfer business a secret amid the chance of a rival hijack – you may remember Chelsea pinching Mykhailo Mudryk from Mikel Arteta back in January 2023.
A new striker seems to be on the agenda for Arsenal – amid strong interest in RB Leipzig No.30 Benjamin Sesko – and it appears the north Londoners have another attacker on their radar as well…
Arsenal monitoring Semih Kilicsoy
Arsenal are now looking at Besiktas No.90 Semih Kilicsoy – according to his agent Murat Teber.
As quoted by Turkish news outlet Sporx, he said: “I know that clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart are watching Semih. We received information about this, but it has not reached the offer stage.”
Clearly, the Gunners do not have a free run at securing the Turkey international’s signature – although it is very interesting to hear this come straight from the mouth of Teber.
If Arsenal are successful in signing Kilicsoy, Arteta will have another supreme talent on his hands to add to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard.
At the age of just 18, the striker scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 35 appearances for Besiktas last season, in a campaign where he played on the left, right and centre of the attack.
Sporx add that Besiktas will demand €25m (£21m) to sell Kilicsoy.
Mikel Arteta could sign Sergio Aguero 2.0
If Edu strikes an agreement with Besiktas, Arteta could have the new Aguero at the Emirates Stadium.
Mehmet Eksi – Academy Director at Besiktas – recently told another Turkish news outlet in Hurriyet that some people in Turkey compare Kilicsoy to the Argentine, although those within the club liken him to German legend Gerd Muller.
He said: “As infrastructure teachers, we compare Semih to Gerd Muller. Some compared him to Aguero. He also sees Aguero as his idol.”
“He plays in three areas. Right winger, left winger and centre-forward. He also plays behind the striker very well.”
With 15 goal involvements in all competitions last season at the age of just 18, Kilicsoy seems exactly like the type of versatile forward Arteta could mould into a superstar.
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Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Arsenal continue to track the Turkish teenager.