Arsenal have just missed out on the transfer of a young winger who ‘wins matches’ after Jose Mourinho welcomed them to Fenerbahce after just one thing happened.
The Gunners are in the market for new attacking weaponry this summer as Mikel Arteta bids to further improve his frontline. Arsenal scored a club-record 91 goals in the Premier League last term. But Arteta is keen for fresh faces in N5 as just three players scored double digits.
Only Bukayo Saka (16), Kai Havertz (13) and Leandro Trossard (12) managed to find the back of a net more than eight times at Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli also regressed from his 15 goals in 2022/23 to net six in 23/24. Gabriel Jesus also regressed from his 11 to bag four last term.
Fenerbahce convinced Oguz Aydin to reject a transfer to Arsenal
Turkey prospect Oguz Aydin was one player who Arteta considered for a transfer to Arsenal this summer. That is according to Cihan Aktas, the president of Bucaspor, who has revealed that the Gunners sought to secure a deal with Alanyaspor before Fenerbahce won the race.
Fenerbahce have paid Alanyaspor €6m (£5m) for Aydin’s transfer, which the Istanbul natives will spread over his four-year contract. Aktas has confirmed that Bucaspor will earn €1.08m (£900k) of Aydin’s transfer fee in a sell-on clause, too, after selling him for €350k (£300k).
READ MORE: Arsenal 24/25 confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loan exits and releases
Aydin left Bucaspor back in July 2021 after graduating from their academy and the 23-year-old went on to offer Alanyaspor 24 goals plus 10 assists in 95 games. His efforts caught the interest of Arsenal but a phone call from Fenerbahce president Ali Koc changed everything.
“Oguz is a player who comes on stage at the most unexpected moments and wins matches,” Aktas told Hurriyet. “Two Italian clubs and Arsenal were after him. Galatasaray also wanted him but when Ali Koc stepped in, he became a Fenerbahce fan.”
Oguz Aydin will now play under Jose Mourinho after his Turkey debut
Arteta considered Arsenal targeting Aydin’s transfer from Alanyaspor after the one-cap gem scored 13 and assisted seven goals in 35 Super Lig fixtures last term. His displays resulted in starting on Aydin’s senior Turkey debut against Italy in June, but he did not go to Euro 2024.
The winger’s haul also included strikes against Trabzonspor (2) and assisting goals against Besiktas (2). Alanyaspor also never lost when Aydin influenced the scoring, including sealing 10 wins and four draws. But Koc enticed Aydin to snub a transfer to Arsenal for Fenerbahce.
Now, the forward will look to further his Super Lig status under Mourinho. Sukru Saracoglu Stadium chiefs appointed the Portuguese as their newest manager this June after AS Roma sacked the former head coach of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United this January.
In this week’s episode of The Arsenal Insider Podcast, Will Jones and Rahul Lakhani debated England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. With Spain stars Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino linked with Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s midfield for next season was discussed.
There was also an update on Arsenal’s interest in Riccardo Calafiori, along with a debate on what roles academy starlets Ethan Nwaneri and Chido Obi-Martin could play in pre-season.
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