Rising star admits he would ‘like to play for Arsenal’ and may cost just £1.3m

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Earlier this week, Caykur Rizespor manager Ilhan Palut opened up on his desire to coach Premier League giants Arsenal at some point in the future.

Now, it goes without saying really that Mikel Arteta has no reason to glance over his shoulder. Not with Arsenal potentially just 270 minutes away from ending a 20-year wait for top-flight glory. And, even if The Gunners did opt to move on from a man who took over from Unai Emery with the club at their lowest ebb, it’s unlikely in the extreme that they would find themselves pursuing a man who has Rizespor seventh in the Turkish top flight.

Sorry, Ilhan.

But when it comes to another man with aspirations of Arsenal, perhaps we should not be quite so dismissive.

Arsenal is a dream club for Oliver Sonne

Oliver Sonne, the 23-year-old Silkeborg right-back, is emerging as one of the most talented young widemen in Scandinavia. Born in Denmark but a representative of the Polish national team, Sonne has three goals and four assists under his belt this season.

HITC have already been told, meanwhile, that Arsenal are in the market for a right-sided full-back this summer. Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode is among their targets.

Now, Sonne is unlikely to be on his way to North London in the coming months. But, during an excellent his first full season in the Danish top flight, the former HB Koge starlet certainly looks like a man heading in the right direction.

“I have been here for three years, and there are times when you want to try new things,” Sonne tells Peruvian publication Pase Filtrado, via Tipsbladet.

“I would like to play in the Italian league or at Arsenal. (Joining Arteta’s side) would be a dream of mine, but I don’t know if it’s possible at the moment. 

“I hope it can become a reality one day.”

Gunners looking at right-backs this summer

Any full-back in an Arteta team must be very comfortable with the ball at his feet, and capable of influencing things in the final third. Sonne certainly appears to possess both of those attributes; calm under pressure, a fine crosser from wide areas and also pretty impressive on his weaker left foot too.

While Arsenal looks like a step too far at the moment, a move to Belgium with Anderlecht feels like a natural next rung on the ladder. Het Nieuwsblad reports that there is interest from the Jupiler League giants, with Silkeborg reportedly looking for just £1.3 million.

“(Sonne) has great qualities in the offensive (third),” Tipsbladet explain. “Occasionally, (he hits) some challenges in the defensive, but he is a key player for (Silkeborg coach) Kent Nielsen and certainly someone that SIF will score good money on.”