Arsenal reportedly held talks with ‘special talent’ in March but he’s signed for Bundesliga club instead

Follow us on Google Discover

Premier League club Arsenal have missed out on a ‘special talent’ with Bayer Leverkusen confirming the arrival of Zidan Sertdemir, as reported by the club’s official website. 

Kamaldeen Sulemana, the Neymar-esque winger on Liverpool and Manchester United’s radar, is not the only highly-rated attacker on his way out of Nordjsaelland this summer.

Teenager Sertdemir might not have taken Danish football by storm like Sulemana, but the exciting attacking midfielder has wasted little time in becoming one of the most coveted footballers in Scandinavia. 

Sport BILD reported in March that Arsenal had held talks with Sertdemir.

And, just in case you were wondering, Zidan is named after a certain Real Madrid legend – minus the ‘e’ of course. 

Will Arsenal regret missing out on Zidan Sertdemir?

BILD did point out that Sertdemir’s family would have preferred to see the Denmark youth star make the short trip across the border into Germany rather than head for England.

So it is really no surprise to see the youngster put pen to paper with Bayer Leverkusen instead, signing an initial three-year deal with a club famed for turning promising youngsters into elite-level forwards, from Kai Havertz to Moussa Diaby. 

“Zidan Sertdemir has a special talent. His signing is a great success for our scouting department after having had him on their radar for three years,” said Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes. 

“We see great potential in Zidan and believe he will make the grade in professional football. That’s why we are including him in training with the first team straight away.

“Zidan should get experience with the senior squad early on and then take his time in moving up to the next level.”

This is not the first time Arsenal have missed out on an exciting teenage talent who has made a name for himself in Scandinavia. Emil Roback, a striker labelled ‘the future’ by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, joined AC Milan last summer despite interest from the Gunners. 

Arsenal are also reportedly interested in Brondby schemer Jesper Lindstrom, although an ill-timed injury could wreck a potential move to the Premier League.