La Liga giants Real Madrid are reportedly considering 18-year-old highly-rated Turkish goalkeeper Onuralp Cevikkan as the long-term successor to Thibaut Courtois.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Onuralp Cevikkan is the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The Merengues are scouring the market for a goalkeeper heading into the summer transfer window. And they have set their sights on the 18-year-old highly-rated Trabzonspor goalkeeper.
Who is Onuralp Cevikkan?
Onuralp Cevikkan is the latest Turkish wonderkid to rise in prominence. The country is producing highly-rated prodigies at a lightning-quick pace, with Arda Guler paving the way for others to join big clubs. Meanwhile, players like Semih Kilicsoy and Ferdi Kardioglu are attracting interest from high-profile clubs.
As for Cevikkan, the highly-rated goalkeeper is a native of Izmir and spent most of his formative years with Altinordu FK. However, the 18-year-old has risen in prominence since joining Trabzonspor last summer. While the youngster is yet to make his first-team debut, his exploits in age-group football have captured the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Real Madrid.
Real Madrid Move on the Cards?
Real Madrid will likely delve into the market for a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. A move depends on Thibaut Courtois’s recovery, with the Belgian international picking up a second knee injury this season a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga will return to Chelsea when the 2023/24 campaign ends, with Real Madrid not permanently signing him.
Recent reports have claimed that the Merengues are confident of tying Andriy Lunin to a new contract. However, it behoves Real Madrid to scour the market for a goalkeeper, considering Courtois is on the wrong side of 30. Onuralp Cevikkan has thus emerged as a viable target for Los Blancos.
Other goalkeepers like Marcin Bulka also feature on Real Madrid’s radar. But Cevikkan has become one of the top targets for the Spanish outfit. The 18-year-old highly-rated can be the long-term successor to Courtois, although he will benefit by playing for Trabzonspor for a few more seasons.
It will be interesting to see if a move for the Turkish shot-stopper materialises in the summer transfer window. For now, Cevikkan has emerged as a viable target for Real Madrid as they search for Courtois’s successor.
