Premier League duo Everton and Arsenal have both been linked with Basel’s Champions League hero Eray Comert, who stunned PSV Eindhoven.
With Basel looking to edge out PSV Eindhoven and seal their place in the next qualifying round for the Champions League, there was plenty of pressure on the highly-rated centre-back Eray Comert.
The 21-year-old’s excellent positioning and perfectly timed tackles were needed if the Swiss giants were to overcome their much-fancied Dutch opponents. But few expected that Comert would make the difference at the other end of the pitch too.
With just eight minutes gone at St Jakob’s Park, the defender fired a stunning free-kick into the PSV net, clipping the bar for aesthetic effect. Approximately 70 minutes later, Basel were through, triumphing on away goals.
And with Everton and Arsenal in need of defensive reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut, Comert’s heroics could hardly have been better timed.
The Mail reported in July that the Gunners had met Comert’s representatives while Everton have also been keeping tabs on his development. Basel don’t want to sell, understandably so, but keeping hold of their academy graduate could be easier said than done.
Arsenal are simply crying out for a new centre-half after conceding over 50 goals in each of the last two Premier League seasons. Everton, meanwhile, have failed so far to replace either Phil Jagielka or Kurt Zouma.
While Comert has caught the eye thanks to his superb defensive work rather than an ability to hit 30-yard rockets, his Champions League heroics will do his reputation no harm at all.
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