Cenk Tosun recommended Fenerbahce wonderkid and Liverpool target Arda Guler to Everton but the Premier League outfit decided against making a move, speaking via Ajansspor.
It’s fair to say Everton’s recruitment record leaves a lot to be desired.
Tosun himself is a symbol of the muddled thinking and questionable decision-making that has plagued one of English football’s great overachievers, the £27 million striker playing just six minutes of football as Frank Lampard’s expensively-assembled squad avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth.
And should Arda Guler end up on the other side of Stanley Park, Everton could have another regret to add to an already lengthy list.
According to Fanatik, Merseyside rivals Liverpool scouted the twinkle-toed teenager recently. As did Arsenal.
Guler, who has been tipped to become a ‘world star’ by Fenerbahce team-mate and World Cup winner Mesut Ozil, is valued at a staggering £25 million, despite only turning 17 a couple of weeks ago.
“Everton asked me last year (about some of Turkey’s most exciting young talent),” says Tosun, who confirmed his impending departure following the 5-1 final day thrashing at Arsenal.
“I mentioned Arda from Fenerbahce. They (Everton) looked but did not make a move because he was under 18.”
Is Arda Guler really the ‘Turkish Messi’?
Guler has been labelled the ‘Turkish Messi’ by some. And while it seems every nation on planet earth has their own, bargain basement version of the Barcelona legend, the comparisons between Guler and Messi are not merely hypothetical.
A diminutive, left-footed forward with an eye for the spectacular, Guler already averages a goal or an assist every two Super Lig games in Fenerbahce colours.
“A super goal and a super assist. Quality,” Ozil said after Guler’s dazzling performance in a 5-2 triumph over Alanyaspor in March.
“You will be a world star.”
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Guler is just one of a number of exciting young talents emerging over in Turkey. Left-back Ridvan Yilmaz is already a target for Tottenham Hotspur.
And Tosun is equally positive about the potential of Galatasaray’s Kerem Akturkoglu.
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