Transfer Rumor: talks with Caglar Soyuncu imminent

Earlier this month, the president of Caglar Soyuncu’s former club in Turkey, Altinordu, claimed that the young center back was on his way to Arsenal this summer. Although the comments were debunked, it appears as if there may have been something to them. Soyuncu recently discussed Arsenal with Turkish sports publication Tumspor, as reported in the Evening Standard.

Arsenal are one of the most important clubs in England. I know they’re interested in me, but there’s nothing finalized yet about my transfer. After the national team camp we’ll have talks.

The 21-year-old has impressed in his two seasons with Bundesliga club Freiburg, making 50 first team appearances. His success in the Bundesliga earned him a call-up to the Turkish national team, where he may feature in their three upcoming matches.

Soyuncu has said that he would like a guarantee of first-team football to leave Germany, which might prove a stumbling block to a transfer. Or maybe not. Arsenal’s defense is due for a revamp. The club has been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund center back Sokratis Papastathopoulos, which suggests that the front office isn’t enamored of the current in-house options.

Signing Sokratis and Soyuncu in the same window makes sense to me. Arsenal would be bringing in an experienced hand to guide the defense through a transitional period, and a young, exciting prospect for the future. Adding two more center backs (alongside the January window addition of Konstantinos Mavropanos) would probably mean that one (or more) of Arsenal’s current center backs is on his way out. Shkodran Mustafi has been linked on and off with a move away from the Emirates since last summer. Bringing in younger guys behind Rob Holding and Calum Chambers suggests that the new front office doesn’t rate them highly.

Regardless of whether Caglar Soyuncu comes to Arsenal, one thing is clear - the defense is going to look different next season.