Transfer News: Tottenham to battle Arsenal, Man United for Zeki Celik
According to transfer news from the Evening Standard, Tottenham Hotspur are set to battle it out with Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United for the signing of Lille defender Zeki Celik.
The 24-year-old joined Lille from Turkish outfit Istanbulspor in the summer of 2018. Till date, he has featured 103 times for the French club, scoring five goals and setting up eleven more. Celik was an integral part of the Lille team that went on to win the Ligue 1 title in 2020/21 under the management of Christophe Galtier.
And, his exploits with Les Dogues has now led to interest in his services from the bigwigs of the Premier League, in Tottenham, Manchester United as well as Arsenal.
Tottenham’s need for a right-back has become quite apparent after Serge Aurier confirmed that he will be leaving the club this summer instead of signing an extension on his contract that still has a year left. While Spurs had brought in Matt Doherty last summer, the Irishman has proven to be a dud in his debut season.
So, reinforcements in the right-back department will be a necessity, irrespective of who takes over as the manager for next season. Celik, to that end, can be a viable addition for Spurs given that he has experience in Europe and 24, has his best years in front of him.
In addition to that, as per the report, Celik would be available for a transfer fee of just £13m, making him a cost-effective option for the club at a time when finances are tight and reinforcements in multiple areas are necessary.
More Tottenham Hotspur News:
- Transfer news: Tottenham Hotspur interested in Kyle Joseph
- Tottenham line up Max Aarons as Serge Aurier replacement
- Man City to offer Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling to Tottenham in Harry Kane deal
Celik, for his part, is said to be open to an exit from Lille. He will listen to offers from all the three interested parties and take a decision on his future. Currently away with the Turkish national team for the Euros, it remains to be seen if Tottenham are able to beat Arsenal and United for his transfer.
