Arsenal prepare €25m solution to ongoing left back woes

Peter Staunton
  • Updated: 20 Apr 2024 18:00 BST
  • 3 min read
Ferdi Kadioglu celebrates scoring for Fenerbahce against Samsunspor
© IMAGO

Arsenal will IMMINENTLY make a bid for the Fenerbahce left back Ferdi Kadioglu, according to a report in Turkey.

The 24-year-old has been among the club’s best performers this season as a marauding left-back who is capable of taking on his man, making chances and even pitching in with the odd goal or two.

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And Fanatik now reports that the Gunners are ready to shell out €25 million for Kadioglu in an attempt to put their left-back woes behind them.

READ MORE: Arsenal’s outcasts: The four players Mikel Arteta doesn’t trust

Mikel Arteta has been unable to find consistency at left back all season long with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakob Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu among the players fielded on the left side of defence.

The Turkish outfit reports that Arsenal sent scouts to assess Kadioglu on Thursday night as Fenerbahce crashed out of the UEFA Europa Conference League to Olympiakos on penalties.

Oleksandr Zinchenko Arsenal
© IMAGO - Oleksandr Zinchenko Arsenal

Despite the aggregate defeat, Kadioglu put in another flawless display to add to his growing reputation as one of the most consistent left backs in Europe.

Although he has been fielded as a left back for most of this season, he is just as comfortable at right back and could well provide valuable cover elsewhere in the Arsenal squad.

As a young player with NEC in the Netherlands - where he was born and grew up - and in his early days with Fener, he covered positions further up the pitch, in central midfield as well as on the wings.

Kadioglu in demand

Having signed with Fenerbahce under the short-lived reign of Phillip Cocu in 2018, Kadioglu initially struggled to make an impact in Istanbul but has gradually grown into a key performer.

Kadioglu renewed his contract in 2022 and his new terms extend until 2026. Fener will have a job on their hands to convince him to extend again, however, with interest picking up in the former Netherlands under-21 all across the continent.

Liverpool and Manchester City have been mentioned as further Premier League suitors while it’s also been reported that Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, AC Milan and Inter are keen.

He earned positive reviews back in November when he locked up Leroy Sane during Turkiye’s 3-2 friendly win against the Germany national team.

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