According to a recent report by the Turkish news outlet Takvim (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness), Manchester City are locked in a three-way transfer battle for Altinordu centre-back Ravil Tagir this summer. The same source has also revealed that the Citizens will face competition from Borussia Dortmund and Fenerbahce in pursuit of the promising young defender during the summer transfer window (via Sport Witness). It is believed that the Mancunian outfit are closely monitoring the Turkish whizkid’s situation and could launch a move for him when the transfer window reopens later this year (via Sport Witness).
Tagir’s Impressive Spell In The Turkish 1.Lig
Tagir has been dubbed as the new Caglar Soyuncu following a run of eye-catching displays in the Turkish second division this season. He has come through the youth ranks of Altinordu before breaking out as a first-team starter earlier in this campaign. His current contract at his boyhood club runs until the summer of 2022.
The ball-playing defender has made 27 appearances for Hüseyin Eroğlu’s side this term and has got one goal to his name across all competitions. More importantly, the 17-year-old has performed at a high level in the defensive third of the pitch. His excellent contributions at the back had helped the Turkish club steer clear of the relegation zone before the football world came to a sudden standstill because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
The Schambyl-born talent has also represented Turkey at various youth levels. He is currently an integral member of his country’s Under-21 side, having featured in two matches for them thus far. Tagir has the potential to become a top defender someday as long as he can continue improving his overall game with each season.
What Are Turkish Wonderkid’s Best Attributes?
Tagir can use his upper-body strength to win a lot of headers in the air and is gradually transforming himself into a reliable presence at the heart of the Altinordu defence. He excels at passing the ball accurately out from the back, which makes him a good fit for Pep Guardiola’s style of play at the Etihad Stadium. The Turkish starlet has also got the pace to make recovering runs inside his own half and is not shy of getting stuck in with a few tackles to earn possession back for his team.
Is Tagir A Prospect For The Future?
However, Tagir is still quite raw and would need time to develop himself before he is ready to taste Premier League football someday. A promising young defender of his potential will undeniably benefit from joining Man City’s world-class youth academy. He will significantly improve the quality of the Citizens’ youth sides and has the ceiling to become a world-class player in his position if Guardiola takes the time to nurture him in the years to come.
There is no denying that Tagir is a prospect to look out for in the future, so the Mancunian giants will do well to win the chase for his signature in this off-season. The recent emergence of Phil Foden and Eric Garcia should serve as proof that there is room for a young player like Tagir to break into Guardiola’s first-team set-up if he can prove his worth for Man City’s youth sides and in the training ground.
