FC Basel have reportedly warned Arsenal over their pursuit of their promising young star Eray Comert despite the player wanting a move to England.
Arsenal’s pursuit of young defenders this summer has not come as a surprise considering their budget constraints. The latest of such defenders on Arsenal’s list comes in the form of Eray Comert. According to Daily Mail, FC Basel have issued a warning to Arsenal over pursuing their defensive prospect, although the player would prefer a move to the Premier League.
Despite reports about Arsenal closing in on signing Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba, the pursuit of further defensive targets does not seem to have stopped. Arsenal are yet again in the chase for a young defender, this time for Swiss Under-21 captain Comert. The FC Basel star is on the radar of the Gunners, with the report claiming a move could be in the offing.
However, FC Basel are understood to be against the idea of a move, as they want Comert to hang around for another season. Moreover, the Swiss club are counting on the defender for their crucial Champions League qualifiers before the start of the season. Reports suggest Basel’s European future could have a big say in Comert’s future at the club.
Having represented Switzerland at youth levels, Comert has gone on to captain their Under-21 side and believes he is ready to move away from his homeland. The Premier League, as enticing as it is for any player, appeals to Comert and he reportedly believes it could be the right time in his career to move to a bigger league and have the prospect of succeeding at the top.
The report also suggests Arenal have begun preliminary talks with the player’s representatives, although Basel’s reluctance could prove to be a problem. Basel are also bracing themselves for moves by Everton and Atletico Madrid, and after his performances for them last season, it could be challenging to hold on to Comert.
Comert has featured 38 times for the Swiss side’s senior team. However, he boasts the experience of playing at different age levels with Basel. Arsenal, meanwhile, are pursuing other targets and are close to securing Kieran Tierney from Celtic, among other targets.
As for Comert, it could be a challenging few days to make a decision. He could either allow Arsenal to further advance their pursuit or remain at Basel for the foreseeable future. Joining Arsenal would mean restricted playing time, and he could cement his status with Basel with another season at the top and even help them qualify for the Champions League group stages.
