Arsenal transfer news: Andrea Berta scouts Turkish derby with multiple Gunners targets in mind

The Istanbul derby betwixt Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, won 3-0 by the Lions connected Saturday, did not crook heads simply acknowledgment to the historical rivalry that played retired connected the pitch. Up successful the stands astatine the Ali Sami Yen Rams Park, an illustrious perceiver was tracking each item with a strategical eye.

Andrea Berta, the existent Arsenal sporting director, was contiguous successful Istanbul with a clear-cut mission: to instrumentality a person look astatine imaginable reinforcements for the upcoming transportation window.

According to AS, the Italian enforcement made the astir of the showpiece to support tabs connected 3 circumstantial Galatasaray names — each of differing profiles, but who tick boxes for circumstantial needs successful the North London squad. The main people is Victor Osimhen, a striker who continues to beryllium blistery spot connected the European marketplace and is perpetually being linked with elite clubs.

Osimhen connected Arsenal's radar

Even aft splashing retired heavy connected Viktor Gyokeres successful the erstwhile transportation window, Arsenal bash not look minded to bring their hunt for a top-tier fig 9 to a close. The Sweden planetary landed amid a question of expectation, but helium has yet to present connected the hype. Berta's beingness successful Istanbul reinforces the conception that the nine are inactive successful pursuit of a portion susceptible of taking their attacking portion up a notch.

Osimhen, successful that context, emerges arsenic a virtually unavoidable name. Physically imposing, ruthless successful attacking the abstraction down defences and blessed with a crisp oculus for goal, the Nigerian boasts the benignant of attributes that broaden Mikel Arteta's tactical options. More than conscionable statistics, this is simply a striker who commands respect from absorption defences, thing the Gunners have, astatine definite points of the campaign, been crying retired for.

During his enactment successful Turkey, Berta did not halt astatine observing show connected the pitch, but besides gathered nonstop quality from Galatasaray officials regarding the player's declaration situation. Signed connected a imperishable ground from Napoli for €75m (£64m) — a Turkish shot grounds — Osimhen is the Lions' main attacking notation constituent and an idol of the Yellow & Reds' faithful.

What different players were Arsenal scouting?

Although the main absorption is connected attack, Berta's scouting ngo did not halt astatine Osimhen. Two further names caught the eye: Baris Alper Yilmaz and Ugurcan Cakir. Both are cardinal figures successful caput manager Okan Buruk's set-up and a regular beingness successful the Turkey nationalist team, helmed by Vincenzo Montella.

Yilmaz represents a illustration progressively valued successful the modern game: the multi-functional footballer. Capable of operating connected either flank, done the mediate arsenic a striker and adjacent successful antiaircraft duties — including spells astatine right-back past play — helium stands retired for his strength and his quality to adapt. At 25, helium is successful good form, ranking among the starring attacking names successful the Turkish apical flight.

Cakir, meanwhile, offers a antithetic benignant of security: the benignant that comes from betwixt the sticks. Signed for a grounds interest from Trabzonspor, the shot-stopper rapidly justified the outlay with a drawstring of accordant performances, peculiarly successful the Champions League.

The numbers marque for awesome reading. Across 12 matches successful the competition, helium racked up 40 saves, slotting successful among the busiest and astir reliable goalkeepers successful the tournament. Against Liverpool successful the past 16, helium produced a memorable showing: 18 saves combined crossed the 2 legs, including a punishment stopped from Mohamed Salah.

In 1 of those games, helium deed the 11-save people — the highest fig recorded by a goalkeeper successful a azygous Champions League lucifer successful the past 10 seasons.

The performances person not gone unnoticed by different heavyweights. Clubs specified arsenic Bayern Munich, Juventus and Inter Milan are tracking the goalkeeper's situation, peculiarly fixed the request to refresh their respective squads.