The transfer window will be opening in the next few months but rumours and links have already been flying around the media. Such is the interest of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu who is set to join either team in the summer.
Turkish outlet Aksam stated that there are several clubs who are rumoured to have registered an interest in the 23-yrs-old Turkish winger Akturkoglu. Atletico Madrid, Lyon and Wolfsburg were said to have been in contention for his signature.
Among the interested clubs, Wolfsburg had made an initial bid of around €14 million during the January transfer window but the offer was rejected by the Turkish side. Galatasaray were believed to be holding out for a better offer in the region of €20 million.
With Arsenal and Tottenham entering into the frame, both teams are obviously looking for attacking additions in the summer transfer window. Having become impressed with Akturkoglu’s performances for Galatasaray, both teams will be gearing for his signature.
What makes Akturkoglu a fit for either side?
Though been right-footed, the product of Basaksehir’s youth academy plays primarily as a left-winger, either in a 4-2-3-1 formation or the left of a 4-3-3.
He uses both his left and right foot perfectly, making it so unpredictable with the ball. On most occasions, he uses that rare ability to glide through players seamlessly, hereby causing a threat at goal, as he can either barge down the wing to whip in a cross with his left foot or cut inside onto his right foot to get a shot at goal.
The 5ft 8in explosive winger had formerly been heralded as a younger version of Lionel Messi, due to his pace, close control, dribbling at speed and the intelligence to attack spaces.
In the current 2021/22 campaign, Akturkoglu has notched 11 goals and seven assists in all competitions.
Despite joining Galatasaray in 2020 and coming onto the scene on his league debut for the club in November of 2020 against Kayserispor, Aktürkoğlu has impressively gone ahead to make his debut for Turkey national team in a friendly against Azerbaijan on 27th of May 2021.
Akturkoglu’s Galatasaray contract expires in 2026, but that doesn’t seem to be a potential problem for any of the North London sides to struck a deal for the winger considering his relatively cheap transfer demands.
Both clubs have limited options on the wings, and an injury to one or two of their starter will undoubtedly affect the club’s result, hence, an investment in Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu’s talent and potential might prove to be a masterstroke in the long run.
