Arsenal in £13m Zeki Celik transfer race with Manchester United

While it was said in jest that Arsenal were starting with the goalkeeping situation and working their way up the pitch, it may indeed be true as strong links to right-backs begin to emerge with Lille’s Zeki Celik someone the club are pursuing.

Edu and co hadn’t planned on needing to source a new No. 1 this summer. Bernd Leno’s future has since taken a turn and added further layers to the transfer to-do list, which are being seen to with the seemingly imminent addition of Andre Onana from Ajax.

With the close to being wrapped up, other areas of the pitch can be tneded to. Right-back is key among them with Hector Bellerin due to leave and, if possible, an early departure for Cedric will surely be sanctioned.

Numerous links have begun to emerge recently and the latest sees Arsenal in the hunt for Lille’s title-winning Zeki Celik.

Arsenal in £13m Zeki Celik transfer race with Manchester United and Inter also chasing Lille right-back

As is so often the case, clubs winning unexpected titles slowly get taken apart. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan is to join AC Milan while the rest of the side are heavily rumoured with their own moves elsewhere.

One of the better performers for Lille last season was their Turkish right-back, who the Evening Standard report is attracting admiring glances from beyond just Arsenal, with Tottenham, Manchester United and Inter all keeping a close watch.

Yes, we know, another Lille player. While Arsenal hideously overpaid for Nicolas Pepe – who had that season with Celik supporting him – both he and Gabriel do like they’ve been solid additions (finance aside) and will be crucial cogs in Mikel Arteta’s machine next season.

So much of what the Ligue 1 champions have achieved is credit to their (now former) director of football, Luis Campos. Every departure is sanctioned with the perfect replacement in mind, and their initial recruitment is magnificently well thought out. In 2018 Kevin Malcuit was sold to Napoli, which prompted Les Dogues to part with £2.35m for Celik.

It’s proved to be another Campos masterclass as the 24-year-old produced a season of excellent displays, putting him in the shortlist for the Ligue 1 Team of the Season.

Arsenal are in desperate need of a first choice right-back with question marks over Calum Chambers’ suitability in the role long-term, as well as Cedric’s…well, existence.

Is Celik that man?

Continued…