Arsenal: Caglar Soyuncu competition only helps

Arsenal are in ‘concrete talks’ with Caglar Soyuncu, as are a number of other clubs, per agent, Mustafa Dogru. The competition only helps the opinion of him as a player and transfer target.

it seems as though Arsenal are at the heart of a truly continental race. There have been tentative reports that the Gunners are interested in young, Freiburg centre-half Caglar Soyuncu for some time now, though nothing more reliable has ever come with such rumours. And now it’s been confirmed that they are not the only ones interested in the 22-year-old’s services.

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The Turkish international has been linked with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and others in the Premier League and throughout Europe, and now his agent, Mustafa Dogru has confirmed the vast array of clubs considering a pursuit of his client’s signature.

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Speaking with the media in Turkey, Dogru claimed that Sven Mislintat is in ‘concrete talks’ with him and his client, while also highlighting several other potential destinations, including Liverpool, Madrid and unnamed clubs in France, Germany and Italy:

"“Sven [Mislintat] is interested in Caglar, there are concrete talks, all that remains is for a fee to be agreed. We will see what happens next. What I will say regarding the Liverpool link is that there were four to five Premier League clubs scouting him over the international break. There are four Premier League sides who’ve made a move for Soyuncu, that we are in talks with. There is also interest from Atletico Madrid in Spain and a few clubs in France, Italy and Germany.”"

I have stated previously that I have absolutely no clue how good Soyuncu actually is. I trust Mislintat’s eye for talent — his record is too impressive to not. But having never seen him play a minute of football before, it is obviously not fair and wholly arrogant of me to cast my judgement, as I am sure many others have and will do throughout this infuriating period of rumour and conjecture.

Consequently, without being able to draw my own evaluations on the player, it is comforting to know that there is a great competition to sign him this summer. It is rare that so many clubs and scouts and managers and sporting directors could value a player that is not actually as good as his reputation. Someone would have deemed otherwise.

Now, the vast competition certainly does not help Arsenal’s cause in trying to sign Soyuncu. I am sure he will be offered more than he would receive at the Emirates, as well as Champions League football and a direct and immediate chance of winning a league title. But it does ease some of my concerns regarding his talent.

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It remains to be seen whether Mislintat’s interest translates into anything more. Dogru certainly suggests it will, though, of course he will say that. But if it does, thanks to the competition from a wide array of teams, I will not be unsure of the addition. In that sense, the competition only helps.