Hatayspor have played down reports claiming Arsenal want to sign the Super Lig’s top scorer Aaron Boupendza this summer, via Hurriyet.
With 18 goals in 16 starts to his name this season, the former Bordeaux youngster is a man in high demand.
Fenerbahce and Krasnodar have both tried to lure Boupendza from the newly promoted Turkish outfit already and, according to 90Min, the red-hot striker is also on the radar of a handful of Premier League clubs.
If reports are to be believed, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is hard at work trying to convince Arsenal of the merits of signing his fellow Gabon international.
However, there’s little to suggest, at this stage, that the Gunners are going to take their captain’s advice and slap down a bid for Boupendza when the transfer window opens.
“Aubameyang made a statement. He stated he recommended Boupendza to Arsenal. Nothing official came to us (from the Gunners),” Hatayspor spokesman Rahmi Vardi explains.
“As there is no transfer season at the moment, there is no situation yet.”
Vardi adds Hatayspor have received a £9 million bid from an unnamed Russian outfit, insisting a man nicknamed ‘Goalpendza’ after a stunning breakthrough campaign has no interest in leaving so soon.
“A Russian team besides Krasnodar offered €10 million. We did not accept because our footballer declared he would stay,” Vardi explains.
“(Boupendza) told us: ‘I want to stay in Hatay. I will earn you €10 million.’ What else can we say? The player does not want to go.”
According to 90Min, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham and Crystal Palace are all weighing up summer bids for one of Europe’s most in-form goalscorers.
But it will take something special to lure Boupendza from the club that handed him his big break. Whoever said loyalty was dead?
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