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

Zeki Celik Would be a Solid Addition for Arsenal

Money talks and when you don’t have much of it, you can’t do much talking.

Celik will be available for around £13m, which in the current market is a bargain fee for a player of his profile, ability and age. Anyone who played their part in a defence that conceded just 23 times across 38 matches and also chipped in with three goals and two assists during that time is someone worth noting.

In a previous list of 15 potential full-back options, Celik was included. There were no links at the time but off the back of the season he had and with two years left to run on his deal, some were inevitable.

Interesting about his profile is his ability with and without the ball being equally strong. Pressing high in Lille’s style, Celik’s intelligence of runs have been key to his side’s success in winning the ball back high up the pitch. His 16.76 pressures per 90 minutes and 5.31 successful pressures per 90 have him in the 93rd percentile or up across full-backs in Europe’e top five divisions. These are particularly outstanding in the middle third of the pitch.

Back in his own third, his defensive stats stack up with 4.12 tackles and interceptions per game, while he’s equally strong at winning the ball back off dribblers and timing his defensive runs.

Once in possession there is an endearing directness to his game. His first touch is almost always an attack-minded one and with the ball at his feet his immediate reaction is to carry or progress. Sitting in the 97th percentile for np-xG, his attacking threat is clear.

As for the eye test, he covers all bases well. Positionally is his only standout weakness as pushing high on opposition wingers can leave him square, as well as easier to exploit with a second runner. This, however, is a tactical aspect that can be fine-tuned, whereas the risk/reward nature of Lille’s balances out favourably.

At 24 years of age and valued at £13m, Celik is absolutely affordable and not a considerable downgrade on other options around. More of a Gael Clichy than a Bacary Sagna are present (not a bad thing) a bit more work in the gym would make him even more enticing for the Premier League.

The Turkish international would be a solid addition. Maybe not of the ‘spectacular’ bracket, but there is good reason why big names are in for him and there is real encouragement to take from him improving upon each season of his career to date.

Arsenal won’t find much better for £13m.