The striker models his game on Sergio Aguero, and he might just get the chance to follow in the footsteps of the Manchester City legend.
HITC reported back in May that the Premier League champions were one of many clubs running the rule over one of European football’s most coveted young centre-forwards, and with good reason.
At the age of just 18, he scored 11 goals and set up four more in 20 league starts last season for one of the biggest and most expectant clubs in the country, carrying their hopes on his back despite the fact he is still new to senior football.
Reportedly valued at £22 million by Besiktas, one of the first tasks facing club’s new head coach -Giovanni van Bronckhorst – will be to convince Semih Kilicsoy that his development would better served staying put in Istanbul.
But while first-team football would be a more regular occurrence at Besiktas, the chance to emulate his idol at the Etihad may be an opportunity too tempting for Kilicsoy to turn down.
Agent admits Arsenal and Manchester City interest
HITC understands that Manchester City and Arsenal are currently leading the race, with Kilicsoy’s agent now confirming the interest from the two teams who spent most of last season going head-to-head for the Premier League crown.
“If an offer has come to Besiktas, I don’t know that,” Murat Teber says, via Sporx. “I know that clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart are watching Semih.
“We received information about this. But it has not reached the offer stage.”
HITC have been told that Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are also among Kilicsoy’s many admirers. Teber did not mention any of those, however, while suggesting that a decision will be made on his client’s future after this summer’s European Championships.
Kilicsoy, despite only having one cap to his name, was included in Vincenzo Montella’s preliminary Euro 2024 squad.
Semih Kilicsoy decision to be made after Euro 2024
“Semih is different. That’s why he is followed by (clubs from) the top five leagues in Europe,” Teber adds. “We will look at the situation after the (European) Championships.”
HITC understands that another of the continent’s most talented young forwards – Benjamin Sesko – has told his camp he is keen to make a move to Arsenal this summer. Sesko has a £55 million release clause in his contract and scored 18 goals in a brilliant first season at RB Leipzig.
There was an interest in Newcastle United hitman Alexander Isak but that no longer appears possible. Arsenal also like Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus, Marcos Leanardo of Benfica and Sporting Lisbon’s former Swansea, Brighton and Coventry City powerhouse Viktor Gyokeres.
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