- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester City are ready to go into battle with some of Europe’s biggest clubs for the signature of Besiktas’ wonderkid striker Semih Kilicsoy this summer.
HITC understands that more than half of the 20 clubs in England’s top flight have scouted the Turkey international this season, and the reports have been nothing short of glowing ahead of what is likely to be a fierce fight for his signature in the coming months.
Semih Kilicsoy, still only 18, is already a regular in the Besiktas side. The fresh-faced striker has scored 11 goals in 30 games in 2023/24. Ten of those have come in his last 17 Super Lig outings, Kilicsoy going from strength to strength while catching the eye of Arsenal and Man City, amongst others.
Arsenal and Man City lead Semih Kilicsoy reace
We have been told that the two Premier League title challengers are the clubs most advanced in their pursuit, but there is also interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Manchester United.
It was reported by the Turkish press this week that Fulham had submitted a £13 million offer for the teenager. That has not been confirmed to us, however, with the feeling being that The Cottagers will have pulled off a massive coup if they won the race for one of Europe’s most coveted teenage forwards.
”Semih Kilicsoy is Turkey’s rising star,” former Galatasaray goalkeeper Ahmet Bulut tells Sporx, urging Besiktas to demand double their reported £22 million asking price.
“The price should be at least 50 to 60 million euros.”
Bulut feels that Kilicsoy could be the next Turkish talent to make a big move to a European giant, following Arda Guler’s £25 million switch from Fenerbahce to Real Madrid last summer.
Real’s Spanish giants Barcelona are keen on Kilicsoy too, alongside Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund. Ditto Serie A trio Juventus, Napoli and Inter Milan.
Tottenham and Aston Villa also in pursuit
A dynamic, instinctive finisher capable of finding the net with either foot, Kilicsoy models his game on that of Man City legend Sergio Aguero. Arda Turan, once of Barca and Atletico, is convinced the Turkey Under 21 international can become a ‘world star’, while Mehmet Eksi believes his nation may have found the modern equivalent of Germany icon Gerd Muller.
“He is a very dynamic, talented striker who can use both feet very well. Stylistically, he resembles the legendary striker Gerd Müller from our time,” former Besiktas defender Eksi tells Fanatik.
“We see him as the future of Besiktas. I am very hopeful about Semih.”