According to a recent report by the Italian news outlet, Corriere dello Sport, Arsenal are no longer interested in securing the signature of Cengiz Under from AS Roma. The same report has also revealed that the Gunners have been priced out of a move after Roma demanded a fee in the region of £45m which was significantly more than Arsenal’s valuation of the player. Hence, a potential deal failed to materialise with Unai Emery now having to concentrate on other transfer targets for this winter transfer period.
Under has already put in some memorable performances for Roma during this campaign. The Turkish talent’s current contract at the Stadio Olimpico will come to an end in the summer of 2022, so the Italian side will be under no immediate pressure to sell him this month. The 21-year-old wide man has made 23 appearances for the Serie A giants this term, scoring six times while creating six assists across all competitions.
The AS Roma prospect has also represented his nation at various youth levels and is currently an integral part of the Turkish national team. At the tender age of 21, Under has already managed to gain a lot of experience at the international level after representing Turkey 17 times and scoring four goals during his career so far.
The Turkish wonderkid has a lot of pace in his locker and is a penetrative dribbler down the flanks. He has developed a knack for finding the back of the net or setting up his teammates on a consistent basis that makes him such an integral asset for Eusebio Di Francesco’s side. However, Under needs to be more productive in front of goal if he wants to be a success at the highest level of European football.
Under can also play in multiple positions across the frontline. He is a natural winger, and that would have made him a perfect fit for Unai Emery’s style of play at Arsenal. There is no doubt that it would be a bitter blow for the Gunners to miss out on his services. AS Roma’s demands of a fee close to £45m seem reasonable considering Under’s incredible potential and the fact that the player is bound by a long-term contract with the Italian club.
Thus, it is quite surprising to see a club with the financial muscle of Arsenal pull out of the race when the price involved was not inflated by any means. Under is quite a talent who could be nurtured into a world-class prospect.
Moreover, one could argue that he might have been the missing link to help the North London giants clinch a top 4 place in the Premier League this season. So it seems like another significant mishap by the Arsenal chiefs to miss out on what looks like another one of their primary transfer targets during this January transfer window.
