Arsenal in £13m Zeki Celik transfer race with Manchester United and Inter also chasing Lille right-back in summer transfer window. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)
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…
#afc</a> Arsenal are interested in Lille right-back Zeki Celik, who has also caught the eye of Manchester United and Tottenham too.</p>
<p>Expected to be sold for a fee of around €15m this summer. Player open to PL move.</p>
<p>More here:<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://t.co/MJ2Ir7jQ1k">https://t.co/MJ2Ir7jQ1k
<p>— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://twitter.com/sr_collings/status/1399976712629329925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 2, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Arsenal in £13m Zeki Celik transfer race with Manchester United and Inter also chasing Lille right-back</h2>
<p>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.</p>
<p>One of the better performers for Lille last season was their Turkish right-back, who the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-tottenham-manchester-united-target-transfer-news-zeki-celik-lille-b938336.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1622615444" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evening Standard</a> report is attracting admiring glances from beyond just Arsenal, with Tottenham, Manchester United and Inter all keeping a close watch.</p>
<p>Yes, we know, <em>another </em>Lille player. While Arsenal hideously overpaid for Nicolas Pepe – who had <em>that </em>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.</p>
<p>So much of what the Ligue 1 champions have achieved is credit to their (now former) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/01/arsenal-rebuild-hire-right-executives/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">director of football, Luis Campos</a>. 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Is Celik that man?</p>
<p><em>Continued…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Zeki Celik the right choice for Arsenal? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-116079" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1232528631-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Zeki Celik" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Lyon’s French defender Melvin Bard (R) fights for the ball with Lille’s Turkish defender Zeki Celik (L) during the French Ligue 1 football match between Olympique Lyonnais and LOSC Lille at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu near Lyon, south-central France on April 25, 2021. (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP) (Photo by PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Zeki Celik Would be a Solid Addition for Arsenal</h2>
<p>Money talks and when you don’t have much of it, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/01/arsenal-odegaard-boost-ancelotti-view/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can’t do much talking</a>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>In a previous list of 15 potential full-back options, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/15/arsenal-15-left-right-back-targets/12/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Celik was included</a>. 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.</p>
<p>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 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://fbref.com/en/players/31a62dc7/scout/365_euro/Zeki-Celik-Scouting-Report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per 90 minutes</a> 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.</p>
<div class="embed embed-video"><iframe loading="lazy" width="500" height="281" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://www.youtube.com/embed/B1IOKSlk3XQ?feature=oembed%22 frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 main Saka positives" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-3-saka-positives-england-call/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-zeki-celik-transfer-race/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/06/02/arsenal-3-saka-positives-england-call/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 main Saka positives </a> </div>
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<p>Arsenal won’t find much better for £13m.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
