Atlanta United have reportedly launched an opening transfer offer to sign Hatayspor winger and Georgia international Saba Lobzhanidze.
According to Turkish-based journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, the Five Stripes have made their first move to sign the forward, making a bid with €1m ($1.1m) for the 28-year-old attacker.
As per Sabuncuoglu, Hatayspor are demanding around €1.5m ($1.6m) for the Turkish Super Lig star, and talks are expected to continue as Atlanta looks to agree on a deal for Lobzhanidze.
Atlanta’s search for a wide-attacker is an open secret this summer, with the Five Stripes currently looking towards Turkey as the location for where their next signing could come this transfer window.
Fenerbahce star Diego Rossi has been linked with Atlanta, though the Five Stripes have seemingly made Lobzhanidze their priority target, likey due to the winger’s age and price tag.
Indeed, Lobzhanidze is at the peak of his attacking powers and could be open to a move to a top club like Atlanta having spent most his of his career playing in Turkey and his native Georgia.
Lobzhanidze could be a bargain signing for Atlanta
Lobzhanidze is quite the unknown quality for MLS and Atlanta supporters as this rumor begins to build up some speed, yet the forward could prove to be a sensible addition to the Five Stripes this summer.
As we know, Lobzhanidze is in the prime of his career, has years of top-flight experience in Turkey and is a regular with the Georgia national team, a country that is slowly on the rise in Europe.
And for Atlanta, Lobzhanidze could be the sort of wildcard signing that Gonzalo Pineda wants to push his side further heading into the second-half of the year, where the MLS giants will want to make an impact in the post-season.
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