AS Roma have maintained their reluctance to let go of star man Cengiz Under, having reportedly rejected a £55 million approach from Arsenal this week.
Arsenal have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Cengiz Under after a £55 million bid was rejected by AS Roma this week, according to Turkish news outlet Fotomac.
The Gunners have identified Under as a top-target in the ongoing January transfer window. Capturing his services could be difficult though, with AS Roma reluctant to let go of their prized asset. However, it is believed that the Italian giants could be lured into selling their star player with a slightly more lucrative offer.
Under has been in stunning form this season, having been involved in nine goals in just 17 league matches, making him one of Roma’s most productive attackers. Although the 21-year-old has scored only three goals so far, it is his phenomenal chance creation, which has helped the likes of Edin Dzeko & co. find the back of the net on a regular basis.
In fact, only Suso (8) has registered more assists than Under (6) this season, which is not surprising at all, considering the fact that he has averaged 1.6 key passes per game. The Turkish international is known for his quick feet, which allows him to infiltrate the opposition defence by playing short passes with teammates or using clever touches, all of which have attracted Arsenal.
Despite being advertised as a wide player, Under loves to cut in and operate centrally, meaning he can be an excellent replacement for Aaron Ramsey, who is destined to leave Arsenal, either this month or next summer.
Much like the Welshman, Under likes to contribute to the attacking department using his clever passing and movements. Even though the 21-year-old may not be as direct, or as industrious as Ramsey, he can certainly provide more dynamism into the Arsenal attack and more importantly, a creative essence, which is warranted following Mesut Ozil’s inconsistencies.
Furthermore, the Gunners lack depth in the attacking department, in general, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan often appearing inconsistent while Alex Iwobi cannot be trusted as a regular starter. Therefore, the addition of Under will provide Unai Emery with an additional option at his disposal as far as creative options are concerned.
On the flip side, flushing over £55 million for Under might seem bizarre for a club like Arsenal, considering their relatively prudent record in the transfer market. However, it is a risk Arsenal have taken nonetheless, as their current crop of attackers may not be able to propel them to a top-four finish come May, meaning the acquisition of Under could be imperative, to some extent.
However, with AS Roma now knocking back their offer, it remains to be seen if Arsenal are willing to make an improved bid to land their target man, or if they set their sights elsewhere.