Arsenal are interested in signing AS Roma winger Cengiz Under, who spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Leicester City. Under was a bit-part player for the Premier League side, making 19 appearances in all competitions, with a majority of them coming off the bench.
As per TuttoMercatoWeb (via Mirror Football), Arsenal, as well as Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, are in the race to sign the winger. The 23-year-old will be available for a fee of around £20 million. Under’s current contract with Roma expires in 2023.
The Turkish international scored twice and made three assists in his 19 games for the Foxes. Under is a key player for Turkey, having made 26 appearances and scored 8 goals.
Cengiz Under to Arsenal – A good move by the Gunners?
Cengiz Under is a quick, exciting winger who likes to take on defenders with his dribbling ability. The left-footed winger predominantly plays on the right and likes to cut into central areas and take shots on goal, averaging 2.9 shots per game in this season’s Europa League. Under also averaged 2 dribbles per game in the Europa League for Leicester City.
The winger is a player with loads of flair and superb close control and has the ability to cause a lot of problems for defenders on his day. Unfortunately for Under, he didn’t get too many opportunities during the 2020-21 season for Leicester City, and also had to deal with a few injuries. It doesn’t seem like the Foxes will make his loan move a permanent deal.
Cengiz Under 2021🔥🔥brilliant Skills and goals pic.twitter.com/dlTmkZcxOk
— Mìrkôbaü 🇶🇦 (@jerryscottismo) May 21, 2021
Arsenal’s interest in the Under is surprising considering his inconsistent displays for Leicester City, and the talent that the Gunners currently have in their squad. The Gunners have a few players that can play on the right side of attack, who will remain mainstays at the club and are better than Under at the moment.
Youngster Bukayo Saka is seen as a player for the present and the future, and the versatile Englishman is capable of playing on the right side of attack. In fact, Saka played a majority of the games in the recently concluded season on the right.
Saka will be a key player for manager Mikel Arteta next season as well. The North London club also has their record signing Nicolas Pepe who has been deployed on the right and left in recent months.
Pepe, too, will be an important player for the Gunners next season. Arteta and the Arsenal board should perhaps target a left-sided winger. They should also sign a player who has better quality and has been more consistent than Cengiz Under. Under is not the answer to Arsenal’s problems.
Stats via Whoscored.com