Rio Ferdinand has now made quite the claim about a player Arsenal want to sign.
The 45-year-old has been working as a pundit for BBC Sport throughout UEFA Euro 2024 this summer,
where he has been treated to some fine performances from Europe’s best footballers.
One of those is on Edu‘s radar at Arsenal – and Rio Ferdinand has now eulogized over his talent…
Rio Ferdinand hails Arsenal target Arda Guler
A story from Caught Offside recently claimed that Arsenal want to sign Real Madrid No.24
Arda Guler -and even sent scouts to Germany to watch the Turkey international in action.
Now, Ferdinand has spoken very highly about the 19-year-old on his FIVE YouTube channel.
The BBC Sport pundit said: “I liken him more to maybe a Modric type when Modric was younger,
and then he could develop because he is just as good at getting the ball off the center-back
deep like a six as he is getting the ball in the No.10 area – as you saw in the game where he banged in a goal.
“That’s all just down to being press resistant as well, but his left foot man,
he even sometimes looks a little bit like Phil Foden. It just depends on where you catch him on the pitch,
but he can take the ball anywhere on that pitch and come out the other end of it. He’s just a little magician, a little magician, and he’s another one who is going to be around for years.”
Guler impressively scored six goals across just ten appearances in La Liga last season following a £14.5m move from Fenerbahce in July 2023.
The teenager also scored one goal and provided two assists in five UEFA Euro 2024 appearances
this summer, before Turkey was knocked out by the Netherlands in Saturday’s quarter-final.
Mikel Arteta and Edu could have a chance
Having made the utmost of his ten La Liga appearances last season, and also acting as a talismanic figure for Turkey at UEFA Euro 2024, signing Guler seems impossible for Arsenal – or seemed impossible, at least.
Spanish news outlet SPORT is now claiming that the Ankara-born wonderkid will refuse to go out on loan next season as he targets a leading role at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, it is stressed that Carlo Ancelotti may have a problem on his hands with Guler, as the Italian will struggle to afford the Turk a key role with the likes of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes, Endrick, Jude Bellingham, and Brahim Diaz competing against him for game time.
Therefore, Mikel Arteta and Edu might have a glimmer of hope in regards to signing Guler, if he decides to kick up a fuss about his situation at Real Madrid.