Manchester City are in negotiations over a cut-price deal for Bursaspor’s Ali Akman with the striker’s uncle telling Sporx he dreams of playing in a major European league.
Aged only 18, you’d be forgiven for assuming Akman has yet to make a name for himself in senior football, with the only insight into his talents available on grainy YouTube footage shot in empty training grounds.
But the reality is something completely different.
The teen sensation has been one of the biggest breakthrough stars in Turkish football this season, scoring nine times in 16 matches for a side sitting all the way down in ninth in the second tier.
Unsurprisingly, Akman’s remarkable run of form hasn’t gone unnoticed among Europe’s biggest and best.
Sporx claims Bursaspor are in talks with Chelsea, Manchester City, Monaco and a Red Bull Salzburg side that provided a platform for Naby Keita, Sadio Mane, Marcel Sabitzer, Dominik Szoboszlai and more.
Lille are also keen, hoping a deal can be agreed for less than £1 million because Akman is due to become a free agent in the summer.
Bursaspor, however, are holding out for £3 million (Daily Mail).
“Ali Akman’s first plan and idea is to play football in Europe,” says his uncle, Ayhan. “He wants to improve himself more.
“Ali Akman also has plans, dreams, goals.”
Six years ago Man City signed another exciting young striker from Bursaspor. But while Enes Unal never got a chance at the Etihad, he did earn the Premier League giants a £12 million windfall when he left for Villarreal in 2017.
The Daily Mail reports Arsenal are also interested. Ayhan’s comments, then, should be music to north London ears.
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